Primark commits to support young people as it marks 50 years in Great Britain

National youth work charity, UK Youth, announces a new partnership with Primark, with the retailer pledging £175,000 to support youth organisations across the country.

The funding will be used to offer small grants to local youth organisations and is part of the retailer’s celebrations of 50 years on the Great British high street this year, after opening of its doors to the first Primark store in Derby, England, in 1974.

UK Youth will now be working with youth organisations to distribute the funding up and downthe country.

Kari Rodgers, Primark UK retail director, said: “We are proud of the role our stores playin towns and cities across the country and know how important high streets are for local communities. All-year-round, colleagues in our stores work to support important local community initiatives that matter to them and raise thousands of pounds for good causes.

We know youth services have experienced a number of cuts over the years and so to coincide with our 50^th anniversary we want to do more to support young people in the communities around our stores. We’re delighted to be working with UK Youth to help provide grants to projects across the UK.”

Ndidi Okezie OBE, UK Youth chief executive officer, said: “We are so grateful to Primark for its support and warmly congratulate the retailer on this landmark anniversary.

This much-needed money will help unlock youth work for even more young people, empowering them with the educational, social and emotional skills to thrive and contribute at every stage of their lives.

Youth work is life-changing and often life-saving, playing a vital role in supporting young people, providing safe spaces, with youth workers as a trusted adult for them to talk to.

By focusing on providing consistent, high-quality youth development provision, we can create a society that nurtures its young people and helps them reach their full potential.

Indeed, our research shows people who engage in youth work as teenagers become healthier, wealthier and happier adults than those who do not, which is why we are so grateful to Primark for its support.”