THE Market Place Shopping Centre has launched a year-long charity campaign with an innovative retail project for young people.

Bolton Lads and Girls Club (BLGC) has linked-up with the shopping centre as its charity of the year and will be working alongside Market Place’s management team, retailers and internal staff to create “exciting opportunities” and work experience for the young people of Bolton.

Centre manager Nikki Wilson-Cook said: “We have seen first-hand the revolutionary work that takes place at BLGC and we hope that through a series of creative programmes, experience and mentoring, we can help to bolster the clubs life-changing work for young people throughout the next year.”

The first project saw a group of 16 year olds run the Citizens Shop, selling items from a high street brand from a unit at the Market Place.

They were tasked to price, merchandise and sell the items to the paying public.

More than £1,200 was raised from the venture and will be ploughed into Renov8 — a project involving an army of young people renovating a rundown property while achieving qualifications in a variety of trades. Renov8 is due to be launched next month.

The two-day event helped the group achieve the social action phase of the government’s National Citizen Service four-week programme.

All proceeds will go to BLGC.

Fundraising manager from the club, Donna Fisk, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen as Market Place’s charity of the year.

“Our club relies heavily on the funding from our local business community which helps us keep the club doors open 52 weeks a year.

“We are always looking at new ways of developing these relationships and when we identify opportunities where we can involve our members in that process then it is all the more powerful.”