Successful Business Man to Chair Chorley Youth Zone

Andrew Turner, Chairman of the Chorley Group, one of the largest volume Nissan dealers in Europe, has been appointed Chair of the soon to be developed Chorley Youth Zone.

Andrew started in the motor trade in 1981 working as a junior sales executive for A&B Motor company in Newton-Le-Willows. Andrew quickly progressed through the ranks at A&B before making the move to set up in business alone in 1989.

Chorley Group was founded from Andrew’s home, trading as the Bugle Inn Motor Co. However, his sights were firmly set on developing a reliable brand of family business, which was quickly evident when the first Chorley Group Nissan showroom opened and became the largest volume Nissan dealer in Europe.

Since then the group has gone from strength to strength, acquiring sites in multiple north-west locations including Chorley, Preston, Blackpool, Burnley and Wigan.

Now Andrew will bring his vast business knowledge and experience to help develop and grow newly-created charity, Chorley Youth Zone – for the benefit of the town’s young people.

Andrew Turner said of his appointment as Youth Zone Chair: “I am absolutely thrilled to have been given the opportunity to help shape Chorley Youth Zone. I’ve lived and worked in Chorley for 35 years and having visited Wigan Youth Zone recently, I believe this facility will make a huge difference to the town’s young people. It will give them somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to in their leisure time.”

The Youth Zone is being created in partnership with Chorley Council, the Arts Partnership, Lancashire County Council and OnSide to make the new facility a reality for Chorley’s young people.

Kathryn Morley, Chief Executive of OnSide Youth Zones said: “We are delighted that Andrew has accepted our invitation to become the Chairman of Chorley Youth Zone. His experience and expertise will be priceless moving forward and I am sure the young people of Chorley will benefit greatly in the years to come.”

The new Youth Zone chair is no stranger to charity work having recently completed a 1100km cycle adventure in aid of Chorley MENCAP, taking on the challenge with elder brother Peter, to ride from Basel in Switzerland to Rotterdam in Holland.

Andrew’s first task as the Chair of Chorley’s new youth facility will be to assist in securing a number of founder patrons for the Youth Zone, contributing to running costs of around £600,000 per year.

Chorley Youth Zone has a proposed site on Railway Street, where The Arts Partnership and Leigh Arms currently stands and will be a purpose-built facility for the town’s young people aged 8 – 19, and up to 25 for those with disabilities.

The Youth Zone would include a sports hall, performing arts area, martial arts space, a base for the Arts Partnership, fitness suite, football pitch and other activity rooms. Young people will also be able to get support and advice on matters such as careers, education and lifestyles.

The next step is to launch the young people’s lead brand – stay tuned!