Eight Years of Impact: One Stop Hire’s Commitment to Local Young People
For the past eight years, One Stop Hire has proudly stood alongside children’s charity Inspire Youth Zone as its first-ever Gold Patron, helping open doors for thousands of young people across Chorley and the surrounding communities.
What began as a partnership has become a long-term commitment to levelling the playing field for young people, no matter their background, circumstances or the challenges they face.
Inspire Youth Zone provides young people aged 7–19, and up to 25 for those with additional needs, with somewhere safe to belong, trusted adults to turn to and opportunities that help them build confidence, resilience and brighter futures. From employability support and mentoring to sports, wellbeing services and creative activities, Inspire exists to ensure every young person feels seen, supported and full of potential.
At a time when more young people are facing poverty, poor mental health and barriers to opportunity, Inspire’s work has never mattered more. Over the last year alone, the charity delivered more than 61,000 engagements, supported 3,404 individual young people and provided 13,504 free meals to young people and families who needed them most.
But behind every number is a real young person finding somewhere they belong. A conversation that changes a mindset. A trusted adult who shows up. A moment where someone feels seen, safe and supported.
Over the course of the partnership, One Stop Hire has donated more than £200,000 to Inspire Youth Zone, with a further two years already committed. By the organisation’s 10th anniversary as a patron, that investment will reach an incredible quarter of a million pounds dedicated to supporting local young people and strengthening the wider community.
Steve Hitchen, CEO at One Stop Hire, said:
“We’re incredibly proud to stand alongside Inspire Youth Zone and support the life-changing work they do every single day. This partnership has never just been about funding a building. It’s about investing in young people, their potential and their future.
Inspire creates opportunities that many young people simply would not otherwise have access to. Whether that’s a hot meal, trusted support, new experiences or somewhere safe to go, the impact reaches far beyond the four walls of the Youth Zone.
As a local business, we believe in showing up for our community and helping open doors that should never have been closed. Seeing the difference Inspire continues to make for young people and families is something we’re hugely proud to be part of.”
Every visit to Inspire costs around £25 to deliver, while young people pay just 50p per session, or nothing at all if cost would ever be a barrier. Partnerships like this help ensure no young person is turned away from support, opportunity or a safe place to belong.
Janine Blythe, CEO at Inspire Youth Zone added “Steve, Danni and the team at One Stop Hire are more than just Patrons, they are part of the Inspire family. Signing up as Patrons before the building was even built, their belief in young people and the future generation has never waivered. More than just an annual donation, they have shown up time and time again, showing young people from all walks of life that there is a bright future ahead of them and that local businesses are here to help them get there. Quite simply, we wouldn’t exist without the support of organisations like One Stop Hire and we’ll never stop being grateful for the belief and commitment they continue to show our young people and community.”
Together, One Stop Hire and Inspire Youth Zone are not just funding sessions or activities. They are helping young people build confidence, raise aspirations and believe in a brighter future for themselves.
