MILLION pound gift for Chorley Youth Zone project

Wigan Youth Zones Chairman Martin Ainscough has donated Â£1m of capital funding support to the Chorley Youth Zone. Pictured: Chorleys Young Peoples Development Group

The shock donation came from Martin Ainscough, chairman of the Wigan Youth Zone, who gave £1 million of capital funding support to the Chorley Youth Zone project.

The project, named by young people as ‘Inspire’, has a proposed site on Railway Street, Chorley, which will be a purpose-built facility for the people aged 8–19, and up to 25 for those with disabilities.

The zone would offer around 20 activities each night, including football, boxing, dancing, climbing, creative arts, music, drama and employability training for 50p per visit.

Wigan Youth Zones Chairman Martin Ainscough has donated Â£1m of capital funding support to the Chorley Youth Zone. Pictured: Martin Ainscough

Andrew Turner, chairman of Chorley Youth Zone, said: “We are hugely grateful to Martin for his incredible gesture in which the young people of Chorley will benefit from greatly.

“It is people like him which will make this project a reality for Chorley’s young people who deserve the best.”

Martin is a successful businessman who rew Ainscough Crane Hire into the largest and most successful crane business in the United Kingdom, prior to its £255 million sale in 2007.

He is also Chairman of the Ainscough Group of Companies.

CGI of what Chorley Youth Zone may look like

Martin, alongside his cousin Bill, who made his success through the growth of his Wainhomes house-building empire, and Dave Whelan, the former owner of Wigan Athletic FC, founded Wigan Youth Zone – a facility part of the growing network of OnSide Youth Zones.

Over the last three years, Wigan Youth Zone has gone from strength, now having more than 5,000 members and up to 200 young people accessing the provision per evening.

Martin has seen the success of Wigan Youth Zone and says he now wants Chorley’s young people to have the same opportunities.

He said: “I have experienced first-hand the overwhelming impact Wigan Youth Zone has had on the young people of the town.

“I know the town of Chorley very well and Inspire Youth Zone really will make a difference to their lives – as Wigan and the other OnSide Youth Zones have.”

Planning permission for the Youth Zone was submitted in March with a decision expected in the coming weeks.

For more information visit Chorley Youth Zone’s website: www.inspireyouthzone.org.