Ørsted’s investment will see the new Grimsby Youth Zone join a growing network of Youth Zones – purpose-built youth centres designed to inspire and support young people – already developed by OnSide in 14 areas across the UK.
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The wind farm provider will work with OnSide, and local project partners to provide funding over five years that will support thousands of young people.
Grimsby Youth Zone will open seven days a week and engage with more than 4,000 young people in its first year of operation, OnSide said.
Ørsted’s donation will give young people a choice of more than 20 activities including indoor climbing, sports, arts, drama, music, media and cooking among others.
It will also support the Youth Zone’s employability and enterprise programme, which will see specialist youth workers and partners support young people who are not in education, employment or training (Neet) to gain the confidence, skills and experience they need for the future.
Kwasi Kwarteng, the government’s energy minister, said: “It is great to see Ørsted working with the new Youth Zone in Grimsby to support and empower young people and invest in their green jobs for the future.
“This donation will be of great benefit to the people of Grimsby, and a good example of a company investing in the future not just of the organisation itself but of the community which it has become such a vital part of.”
Tom Shutes, chair of Grimsby Youth Zone said: “When I was first invited to be part of the Greater Grimsby Town Deal I felt passionately that young people needed to be at the heart of it.
"This is an extraordinary multi-generational donation by Ørsted, who are such an important part of the renewable energy sector that drives the industry and innovation of tomorrow. By stepping forward in this way, they are playing an important role to enable thousands of young people in Grimsby to discover their talents, develop their skills and realise their full potential.”
