WARRINGTON Youth Zone has secured its latest founder patron to help fund the multi-million pound charity site.

Dr Naser Fouad, chairman of the healthcare charity St Mark’s Universal Copts Care and CEO of the St George Healthcare Group, will help the brand-new charity transform the lives of young people in the town.

Due to open in 2021, Warrington Youth Zone will become home to Warrington Youth Club, providing thousands of young people with somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to.

Located in the Stadium Quarter, the new state-of-the-art Youth Zone will open seven days a week, offering more than 20 activities at every session for just 50p per visit.

Dr Fouad’s founder patron donation will directly support young people, helping them to lead healthier and happier lives through a new emotional health and wellbeing coordinator based at the centre.

Dr Fouad said: "I am delighted to be helping the young people of Warrington in this way.

"I’m very impressed with the OnSide Youth Zone model and its holistic approach to youth provision as I’m passionate about supporting mental health.

"I believe that the Youth Zone will help thousands of young people from across the town and for that, I am very proud to be a founder patron of the facility."

Based on the successful OnSide Youth Zones model, Warrington Youth Zone expects to reach more than 5,000 young people aged seven to 19, and up to 25 for those with additional needs, within 12 months of opening.

Dave McNicholl, chief executive of Warrington Youth Zone, said: "We are incredibly proud to welcome Dr Naser Fouad to our family of founder patrons.

"I’d like to say a huge thank you to Dr Fouad, whose generous donation will change the lives of thousands of young people in Warrington for years to come.

"As a brand-new charity, we rely on the generosity of business leaders to come together to support Warrington’s next generation."