THE presentation of a cheque for £20,000 from Yates's Wine Lodges took Bolton Lads and Girls Club to the halfway mark in their quest for funds to build a new clubhouse. The cheque was handed over by Yates's Chief Executive, Peter Dickson, to a delighted Jeremy Glover, the club's manager, at half-time during Bolton Wanderers' match with Crystal Palace on Saturday. The Lads and Girls Club needs £3.5 million to provide a super new purpose built centre for the 1,800 youngsters on its books.

They have applied for a Lottery grant of £3 million and need to raise the remaining £500,000 themselves.

Mr Glover said: "This is a wonderful contribution from Yates's and far more then we dared hope for.

"It has exceeded all our expectations and I still can't believe it. It takes us almost halfway to our target "

The £20,000 was raised by Yates's employees at branches throughout the country an behalf of The Yates Foundation - a company charity set up last year to benefit youth-related good causes,

More than £60,000 has been distributed already this year, including another £20,000 to the Variety Club of Great Britain to buy two mini-buses for the North-west branch.

Mr Dickson said: "The Bolton Lads and Girls Club is an extremely worthwhile venture and provides hundreds of young people in Bolton with a safe place to enjoy and improve themselves.

"Without its facilities many youngsters would simply be hanging around street corners.

"I am extremely pleased The Yates Foundation has been able to help and I hope very soon Mr Glover, his staff and many volunteer helpers will be moving into new, bigger premises."

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