A LEADING youth service has received a vital boost at a time when young people need it most thanks to one of Lancashire’s most prominent companies.

Blackburn Youth Zone will be welcoming Fagan and Whalley, a Padiham-based logistics, distribution and warehousing business, into its patron network, meaning that the firm will work to help make sure more and more young people are reachable by the service.

This comes at a time when youngsters have never been in more need of support, with Blackburn Youth Zone adapting its services to deliver food parcels and deliver online activities for them while they are confined to their homes due to the looming second national lockdown.

Fagan and Whalley commercial director Stephen Fagan said: “As a local family run business, our people centred culture is something we are particularly passionate about.

“Through our dedication to our apprentice schemes and links to local colleges, we understand the importance of providing the support and development our younger generation need to thrive and flourish in their aspirations."

Fagan and Whalley are better placed than most to understand the importance of maintaining local youth services, especially in tough times.

Now led by the 6th generation of the Fagan family, the company has long standing ties to the East Lancashire communities it hopes to help support.

Doing so where Blackburn Youth Zone is concerned has been especially crucial in recent times, when other sources of funding have been difficult to find.

To keep going the service needs to raise a minimum of £1million every year.

Up to 75% of this comes from fundraising, including support from local businesses, known as patrons.

Mr Fagan said: “We are honoured in becoming a proud patron supporter of The Blackburn Youth Zone, with the important work they do, standing as fundamental foundations to support a stronger innovative community for our future generations.”