Dee Bee Wholesale has become the latest to support the town’s young people by becoming a Founder Patron of Horizon Youth Zone.
As a Founder Patron, they will contribute towards the charity’s annual £1.5million running costs, which will help the new Youth Zone offer first class facilities, opportunities and support for thousands of young people living in Grimsby.
Once opened, Horizon Youth Zone will be an independent charity with a private-sector led board. It will be part of the OnSide Network of 14 Youth Zones nationwide, supporting over 50,000 young people annually. Youth Zones are open to young people aged between eight and 19 (up to 25 for those with additional needs), seven days a week, for just 50p a visit. Members will have access to an indoor climbing wall, four court sports hall, training kitchen, music room with a recording studio, fully equipped gym, dance and drama studio, 3G kick pitch, arts and crafts room, enterprise and employability suite.
In addition to the incredible facilities, trained youth workers and dedicated volunteers will be available 7 days a week to offer guidance and support to help Grimsby’s young people to thrive. It will create permanent full and part-time jobs, as well as volunteering opportunities.
Dee Bee Wholesale is one of the country’s leading independent cash & carry suppliers with warehouses in Grimsby and Hull. The company was founded in 1961 and is part of The Ramsden Group, a long established and well respected family business. Dee Bee Wholesale has various partnerships in the local area and supports a number of important causes, most recently launching a collaboration with digital platform Gander, to help tackle food waste in England.
When asked about the new partnership with Horizon, Nick Ramsden from The Ramsden Group said: “We are delighted to be part of making the Horizon Youth Zone come together, its an opportunity to support the local community from which our businesses have benefited from being a part of for all these years.”
Horizon Youth Zone Chair Jason Stockwood said: “This is fantastic news for Horizon Youth Zone and the young people of Grimsby. I’d like to say a huge thank you to Nick and his team for their generous support and for investing in the next generation of local young people. Horizon Youth Zone will be the place that the town’s young people deserve and the support of our local businesses is essential to its success.”
Horizon Youth Zone is being delivered in partnership with OnSide and North East Lincolnshire Council and is supported by a number of businesses and philanthropists. Last month it was confirmed that thanks to a grant from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Youth Investment Fund, all of the building costs for the Youth Zone have now been raised. Focus now turns to raising the annual running costs, which will come from private sector and philanthropic donations, including a contribution from North East Lincolnshire Council. Work is set to start on site over the summer and the Youth Zone is due to open in 2025.
