Secret millionaire expands music project

A millionaire who donated £70,000 to a music project during an undercover television programme is expanding the scheme across the country, she said today.

Hilary Devey, owner and CEO of freight company Pall-Ex, discovered the Back Door Project during her appearance on Channel 4's The Secret Millionaire.

The scheme, based in Rochdale, helps keep 13 to 25-year-olds out of trouble by providing facilities to help them develop their music skills.

Viewers saw the 51-year-old entrepreneur award £70,000 to the project when the programme aired in September.

But her work has not stopped there and Ms Devey now plans to bring the scheme, started in Rochdale, to Leicester, as the first step in its nationwide expansion.

Today she said she was currently looking for a suitable venue for the project.

She said: "The time that I spent with The Back Door Project in Rochdale was an inspiration.

"It gives young adults a way out of crime, alcohol and drugs - activities that are so easy to slip into, but are fostered simply through boredom and frustration.

"As my own business is based in Leicestershire, it seemed like the ideal location to start the nationwide roll-out.

"It is now crucial that we find a suitable venue to turn this into a reality and give new opportunities to young people in the city."

The expansion mirrors developments in her own company which recently announced its growth into Europe despite the current recession.

Freight distribution giant Pall-Ex is to take its concept to Italy with the launch of Pall-Ex Italia and plans are also in place to form further networks in two other European countries during 2009.