LEICESTER CHARITY CALLS ON LOCAL BUSINESSES FOR SUPPORT
A Leicester charity is calling on local businesses to support a fundraising initiative to help with finishing the city’s first youth arts and heritage centre.
Soft Touch Arts has launched its Brick in the Wall campaign, which aims to raise £5,000 towards its £30,000 target to purchase much needed equipment and finishing work ahead of the official opening of its new £1.1 million Youth Arts & Heritage Centre at 50 New Walk.
Companies are being asked to help put another brick in the wall by donating £200 towards the cause in return for a permanent presence within the new arts centre.
Those signing up to the scheme will receive a unique brick designed by the young people at Soft Touch Arts, which will incorporate their company logo and be permanently displayed on a wall in the entrance lobby of the new centre.
Business and Strategic Director of Soft Touch Arts, Christina Wigmore, said: “We are calling on local companies to help us with the final push towards the completion of Leicester’s first youth arts and heritage centre. We hope to raise £5,000 from the brick campaign towards our £30,000 target in order to make our new premises a welcoming and inspiring environment that will help disadvantaged young people build employability skills and look towards a brighter future.
“In return for their generosity and support, local businesses will have their logo permanently installed within our centre, which will be seen by many visitors for years to come, and will receive an invitation to our special launch event on the 22nd June.”
Leicester building contractor, Smallman and Son Ltd, is the first firm to sign up for the Brick in the Wall campaign, after overseeing the refurbishment of the new premises.
Alexandra Kowalczuk, Head of Business Development at Smallman and Son Ltd, said: “We are delighted to lend our support to such a worthwhile cause and are proud to make a contribution to Soft Touch’s fundraising efforts. Usually when undertaking refurbishment work we finish projects to a high standard, but due to the charity’s funding restraints this wasn’t possible. We are, therefore, happy to support this fundraising campaign in the hope that the extra funds needed can be raised so that the finishing touches can be made to the project. We look forward to seeing the designs the young people come up with and would encourage other local businesses to get involved with this campaign.”
Soft Touch Arts is moving into 50 New Walk in order to expand its creative projects, which include art and crafts, music, fashion, cooking, film, photography and the performing arts.
The new facilities will include a healthy eating kitchen, multi-sensory project and performance and exhibition space, a craft and textile room, music rehearsal and recording studios, digital production suites, a craft and textile studio and a sculpture garden as well as improved disabled access.
The new Soft Touch Arts centre will be officially opened on Monday 22nd June.
To be part of the Brick in the Wall campaign please contact Christina Wigmore on 0116 270 2706 chris@soft-touch.org.uk or go to www.soft-touch.org.uk for more details or use the following link to donate http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charity-web/charity/displayCharityCampaignPage.action?campaignId=1046&charityId=1007197.
Pic caption: (L-R) Alexandra Kowalczuk from Smallman & Son, and Christina Wigmore from Soft Touch Arts.
ENDS
For more information on this press release contact Caroline Spence on caroline@anicca.co.uk or call 0116 298 3726.
About Soft Touch Arts
Soft Touch Arts creates brighter futures for disadvantaged young people. Established in 1986, the Leicester-based charity uses the arts, media and music activities to inspire and engage young people, helping them to develop creative, social and employability skills.
The charity purchased the building from the City Council in April 2012. In 2013 they were awarded a £616,000 grant from the Arts Council to refurbish the building to create a youth arts and heritage centre. A further £400,000 has been provided by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Leicester City Council Cultural Services and Youth Service, The Trusthouse Foundation, The Wooden Spoon Charity, Garfield Weston Foundation and other smaller trusts and private business donors and the charity’s own fundraising efforts.
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