Ash Road Bridge Companies Donate £15,000 To Support Village’s Youth Club

Published on: 8 Aug, 2024
Updated on: 9 Aug, 2024

Ash Youth Centre

Ash Youth Club has received a donation of £15,000 from companies involved in the Ash road bridge project to help fund a youth worker for a year. Together with fundraising that has already been taking place in the area, the donation will mean that the youth club – which has been closed – can re-open.

The gift has been announced by Guildford Borough Council.

A council statement said: “This is thanks to VolkerFitzpatrick Limited, our contractor for the road bridge project. They have raised the money as part of their social value commitment to the project. Social value involves giving something back to the community. It can take a variety of forms, from employing local people to using local suppliers, from getting involved with local charities to offering local schools and colleges work experience opportunities.”

The money was raised through contributions from VolkerFitzpatrick itself (£5,000), design engineering company Tony Gee (£5,000) and civil engineering company Sword Contracts (£5,000).

GBC’s Lead Councillor for Regeneration, Cllr Tom Hunt, said: “This is great news for Ash Youth Club and for the Ash community as a whole. Thanks to VolkerFitzpatrick, the youth club will now be able to open more regularly and provide activities for young people in Ash. It’s an excellent legacy for the project which will have a lasting impact.”

Cllr Phil Bellamy, Chair of the Youth Club Committee and Borough Councillor for Ash Wharf Ward, said: “We’re absolutely delighted and very grateful to have received this generous donation from VolkerFitzpatrick. It is a tremendous boost for Ash Youth Club. The money will go towards funding a youth worker for a year at the club. It means that we can get started with a range of activities for young people in Ash. Our aim is to continue fundraising so we can increase the activities on offer and continue to employ a youth worker after the first year.”

VolkerFitzpatrick’s Project Manager, Colin Bexley, said: “I’m pleased we’ve been able to raise this money to help re-start activities at the Ash Youth Club. By the time the project is complete, we will have been in Ash for over a year and have go to know the area well. We’re glad to be able to give something which will continue to benefit Ash after the project is finished.”