£600k lifeline for Wolverhampton's The Way Youth Zone - but seven jobs cut
A cash lifeline has been given to support The Way Youth Zone.
Wolverhampton Council has announced £600,000 in funding to ensure the city centre youth club stays open.
But the centre today revealed seven full time jobs were to go as part of savings, along with a number of part-time staff.
Bosses at the charitable organisation, which caters for hundreds of local youngsters aged eight to 19, made an urgent plea for funding last month.
When the centre opened in 2016, ‘founder patron’ businesses were asked to sign up to a three-year funding plan but a small number have not renewed their support, while some grant funding has also run out.
Wolverhampton Council yesterday announced it would now be continuing its funding provision of £200,000 per year for the next three years, and has also put out a call to other businesses to provide ongoing help.
'Join us and help our children'
Council leader Ian Brookfield said he was proud to announce the council would be continuing with its grant donation.
He said: “The Way is a major contributor, along with the council, in giving our children a better start to life.
“Play is important, but many things they do, art, music, just interacting with adults and each other, makes a huge difference to how our young people operate and grow up in the city.
"We want to invite now the 50 top organisations and businesses in the city to join us and help our children. We have had a fantastic response already but together we can do so much more.”
Job cuts
CEO at The Way Carla Priddon said the redundancies would have no impact on the young people at the youth club and that they would still have “unparalleled access” to all activities.
She said: “A number of incremental grant funding programmes and a small number of founder patrons have drawn to a natural close this financial year.
"The impact of this is that seven full-time employees in the back office and a number of part time roles have been affected.
"We will be looking to support those staff members the best that we can in the coming weeks.
“Young people will continue to have unparalleled access to a range of positive enjoyable activities.
"We offer 20 activities per session and will be continuing that at the quality we deliver now."
Ms Priddon was not able to comment on how many part-time staff would lose their jobs, or elaborate on exactly which seven back office staff had been made redundant.
She said she and other senior staff members were still looking into how and if they would be replaced.
While the funding announcement from Wolverhampton Council will not save the jobs of the staff already made redundant, it does offer a lifeline for the club for the next three years.
“We know The Way is open and safe but we want to do more.”
The Way Youth Zone first opened its doors in early 2016, and offers activities for young people every day of the week.
Can you help? Visit The Way in School Street, call 01902 328290 or donate to their Just Giving page at justgiving.com/wolverhampton-youthzone.
