Central Youth Theatre closer to moving in to new Wolverhampton home
Wolverhampton's Central Youth Theatre has moved a stage closer to securing a new home after raising more than £20,000 in just six weeks.
The 32-year-old theatre company is bidding to take over the former Co-op building on Lichfield Street in the wake of Wolverhampton council slashing its £13,000 grant.
A crowd-funding campaign dubbed the CTY Heart Campaign was launched in June, and donations have ploughed in ever since.
On Monday four donations totalling £2,300 were received through the post, sending the figure past the target of £20,000.
Director Jane Ward MBE said what started out as a pipe dream is fast becoming a reality.
"This is an extremely exciting time for us," she said. "Officially that last day of the campaign was July 20, but donations have just continued to roll in.
"It's been a strange experience looking forward to going through the mail every morning! A few months ago this move looked a long way off but now things are starting to fall into place."
Jane said the cash would be added to the £16,500 raised from June's Hilarity Charity Gala at the Grand Theatre.
"It means we are now in a position to approach the Arts Council and bid for funding," she added.
"We needed some money to put on the table to show we have enough support from the public. We've done that now, but the hard work is really just starting."
The former Co-op store above the Moon Under Water pub has been derelict since 1987. In recent weeks a full costing of the building has taken place, while asbestos has been removed and drains cleared in preparation for a full overhaul.
Jane said that subject to funding arrangements she hoped to approach the council's planning department in September with a view to starting building work by the end of the year.
"We'd like to be in there by next summer if possible," she said. "It might be a staged move, with us taking over different parts of the building at different times."
