H&H Group delivers a much-needed early Christmas present to Carlisle Youth Zone and provides annual ongoing support through its Silver Sponsorship Programme
H&H Group has both donated in kind, with a gift of paper from H&H Reeds, as part of their ongoing support of Carlisle Youth Zone (CYZ), a very important charity for young people in and around the Carlisle area. In addition, the H&H Group also confirms its ongoing commitment to the CYZ, through becoming a Silver Sponsor.
As one of Cumbria’s foremost printers and full-service integrated marketing agencies, H&H Reeds had a sizeable excess of paper and card that cannot always be used in a commercial way. They were keen to donate it to an organisation that would benefit from both the product donation and reduction in expenditure. In addition to their ongoing campaign to reduce the company’s carbon footprint, it is also part of H&H Reeds’ mission to work with, support and keep in touch with their local community and Carlisle Youth Zone was an obvious potential beneficiary. A wide variety of types of paper and cardboard were donated, of different shapes and sizes suitable for a range of uses.
On receiving their donation, Sam Cunningham, Development Co-ordinator at CYZ said “CYZ gets no local authority or statutory help, so we rely heavily on donations. A lot of the creative work we do with the children involves large scale pieces of art which consume a lot of paper, so this is just what we need. As a charity it is hugely beneficial to keep costs down, and paper is so expensive that we are extremely grateful for this generous gift.”
CYZ was opened in 2011, with the aim to provide a safe and fun environment where the potential of young people is developed and fulfilled. Offering a multitude of activities from rock climbing and training in the gym, to cake decorating and craft classes there is something for everyone to enjoy. On average 1500 children a week come to CYZ, a third of whom are from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Richard Rankin, CEO of H&H Group said “Carlisle Youth Zone is a cause very close to my heart. The future of any country is its children, and this charity helps ensure that kids from every background are helped to gain the skills they need to make the most of their lives. We are very pleased to strengthen our ties with this wonderful charity who do so much to help the young people of Carlisle.”
Like all Youth Zones, each entrant pays a flat rate nominal entrance fee of 50p, which has to be supplemented by grants and income from sponsors. As well as the types of facilities and activities you’d expect a youth club/facility to provide, CYZ provides critical well-being and emotional support, especially to those children from more deprived backgrounds. It helps maintain practical life support systems such as food and hygiene and improves the physical and mental fitness of attendees as well as reducing crime and anti-social behaviour.
For Sam and the other members of staff at CYZ, building ties with local businesses and individuals is vital, not just for future funding, but also to provide ambassadors for the amazing work that they do in supporting local children and their families.