Dr Naser Fouad, chairman of the healthcare charity, St Mark’s Universal Copts Care, and CEO of the St George Healthcare Group has pledged to become a Founder Patron of Warrington Youth Zone, a brand-new charity set to transform the lives of young people in the town.

Due to open in 2022, Warrington Youth Zone will provide thousands of young people from the local area with somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to.

Located centrally, in the Stadium Quarter next to the UTC, the Youth Zone will become home to Warrington Youth Club (est. 1952), an existing well-respected youth charity, who currently operate their main club from smaller facilities on the outskirts of the town, four nights a week. The new state-of-the-art Youth Zone will open seven days a week offering over 20 activities at every session; providing a safe and inspiring place for young people to develop new skills, realise their talents and achieve their goals.

For just 50p per visit, the Youth Zone will offer its members access to an indoor climbing wall, 3G kick pitch, a training kitchen, fully equipped gym, dance and drama studio, music room with recording studios and radio booth, a boxing gym, four court sports hall and much more.

Dr Fouad’s Founder Patron donation will directly support young people; helping them to lead healthier, happier, more aspirational lives through the recruitment of a new Emotional Health & Wellbeing Coordinator based at the centre.

On announcing his support for Warrington Youth Zone, 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.”

Dr Fouad moved to Cheshire as a psychiatrist in 1996 and founded his first hospital in Warrington in 2004, providing specialist services for brain injury and autistic spectrum conditions.

In 2018, Dr Fouad became both the first Egyptian-born British citizen to be made a deputy lieutenant, having moved to the UK in 1992.

By becoming a Founder Patron of Warrington Youth Zone, Dr Fouad has joined a special family of individuals and organisations who together will ensure the new Youth Zone opens with a first-class offer for thousands of young people.

Based on the successful OnSide Youth Zones model, Warrington Youth Zone expects to reach over 5,000 young people aged 7-19, 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 local business leaders to come together to support Warrington’s next generation.”

To find out more about supporting Warrington Youth Zone, please contact Lisa Hannah-Stewart at: lisa.hannah-stewart@onsideyouthzones.org.