The Virgin Media customer services team in Dudley have made a big splash by raising over £700 for the West Bromwich YMCA Foyer during a recent fundraising day organized by their Charity Champion, Lucy McGinty.

The day involved a wide range of activities including car washing,manager auction,brick-a-brack stall, and other excellent money-raising ideas.  

All the money raised will go towards a newly established fund, dedicated to providing new, life changing opportunities for disadvantaged young residents of the YMCA.  It will also be added to the fundraising the young people are doing personally to encourage them to continue.

The target is to raise £5,000 this year to enable young people to take part in activities that will broaden their horizons, boost their confidence and raise their self-esteem – traditionally things that help break the cycle of dependence and raise aspirations. This unlocks huge potential for participation in courses, leadership programmes and successful careers.

For example, the trip to the YMCA Europe festival 2008 in Prague in August will take a young person who has never had an international experience to participate with up to 8,000 other young people from across Europe and give them a new perspective on life, and a real opportunity to make a positive contribution on their return through peer education or the YMCA’s new “buddy” programme.