A bestselling author is contributing towards the running costs of the borough’s upcoming youth zone.
Paula Hawkins – who wrote The Girl on the Train – has agreed to make a substantial donation across three years to the £6million hub planned for Dagenham’s Parsloes Park.
The writer was so impressed by her visit to a similar OnSide facility in Wigan that she decided to lend her support.
“I was just incredibly impressed not just by the range of activities on offer but the support that is being provided and how enthusiastic those kids were,” Paula, who has been named as founder patron for the site, explained.
Last month, youngsters revealed that they had named the new hub Future Youth Zone.
Set to open in 2018, it will offer everything from sports to cooking, music and arts. Youngsters aged eight to 19 will pay £5 a year to be a member and then just 50p per visit.
The film version of The Girl on The Train will be released in cinemas on Friday.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here