MORE than 25 companies and organisations have joined forces to build a community hub in Liverpool for youth charity The Prince’s Trust and its Fairbridge programme.
The keys to the premises, in Renshaw Street in the city centre, have now been handed over to the Prince’s Trust following a £350,000 refurbishment project.
The refurbishment has seen the companies work either pro bono or at cost to transform a section of the former Rapid Hardware store enabling The Prince’s Trust, and its Fairbridge programme, to work with an even greater number of disadvantaged 13 – 30 year olds.
Companies that contributed to the project included Grosvenor Estates, K2 Architects, Innov8 Safety Solutions, Liverpool One, Medicash, Rapid, Aztec and Bibby Line Group.
Jayne Wilson, manager of The Prince’s Trust Liverpool Centre, praised the “incredible generosity” of the companies behind the project saying that more than £100,000 has been contributed in professional fees and pro bono advice with a further £180,000 being received in donations.
She added: “No praise is high enough for the companies who have ploughed so much time, effort, energy and money into the project to help us make this dream a reality.
“The business community grasped the opportunity to dramatically improve our offering to young people in the area.
“Within a matter of months this site has been transformed into a modern, ambitious, inspirational 21st century youth centre.
“This generosity of spirit and desire to help the community is Merseyside at its very best. Critically our new premises, which will formally open in April, will allow us to work with significantly more young people.”
Liverpool One estates director Chris Bliss, who led the refurbishment project, said a core team of professionals made substantial contributions to make the project happen.
He added: “More than 40 people worked on the refurbishment in total. All deserve huge credit.
“However, it is very important to thank the professional team who undertook the most costly and time consuming aspects of the project.”
