Graduate trainees from Cheadle-based specialist lender Together joined hundreds of guests to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Manchester Ball in support of The Factory Youth Zone, at a spectacular event which raised over £30,000.
The Factory Youth Zone in Harpurhey provides sport and creative activities for youngsters with additional needs – providing opportunities they may not have otherwise – and was the chosen charity for the annual fundraising dinner.
Specialist finance provider Together is a long-time supporter of the youth centre and a group of six colleagues who are currently on a graduate training programme took on a project to highlight the centre’s many achievements since it was founded five years ago.
Currently The Factory Youth Zone has 2300 members and has recruited 200 volunteers since it opened, who give their time to nurture and support young people and adults in enhancing learning and employability, whilst also promoting greater community cohesion.
Kevin Fisher, HR director at Together said:
“Our graduate team did a great job carrying out the research and presenting their report at the Manchester Ball to 400 guests from the Manchester business community. The evening raised more than £30,000 which will help the youth centre to continue its fantastic work and we’re delighted to have been able to provide support.”
In a joint statement, Hannah Wright and Richard Marsh, from The Factory Youth Zone, said:
“The Together team have brought with them to the project; professionalism, integrity, a sense of humour and bucket loads of energy. They have thrown themselves into the project wholeheartedly, giving their own time to provide a polished final product which they should be extremely proud of and which we were really excited to showcase at the Manchester Ball.”
The Together graduates’ five-year impact report marks the end of the first phase of their project for FYZ and the team are now focusing on how to improve corporate support and increase donations for the well-used facility.
Photo caption: L-R Catherine O’Brien, Eleanor Percival, Lucy O’Brien, Kenna Ngoma, Yvonne Johnson, Nabiha Saeed.