IT LET ME MAKE A DIFFERENCE
THE man behind the regeneration of Cardiff’s historic Coal Exchange is set to appear on a “Secret Millionaire-style” TV show. Developer LawrenceL Kenwright – whose city centrecent portfolio is expected to turn over m more than £250m this year – rebuilt a community centre for children with disabilitiesd during filming for the prog programme. The show w will also see the hotelier take time ou out from his Coal Exchange proje project to work with young people from Hackney’s Football Buddies clubclu – a youth organisation set up tot promote sport in disadvantaged communities. Mr Kenw Kenwright’s Signature Living company, w which has restored derelict historichisto buildings in Liverpool, is redeveloping Cardiff Bay’s Coal Exchange into a luxur luxury hotel in a venture that will cost more than £35m.
Named Undercover Angel, the documentary follows a similar format to Channel 4 series Secret Millionaire and will be broadcast by the National Geographic channel later this year.
As part of the TV show, dad-of-five Mr Kenwright arranged for more than 30 youngsters from the group and their families to spend a weekend at his football-themed Shankly Hotel in Liverpool.
The developer also arranged visits to Liverpool and Everton football clubs for the children and organised a dinner with Ex-England international, John Barnes.
Mr Kenwright said: “My involvement in Undercover Angel was an emotional experience but allowed me, in a small way, to make a difference to the lives of the young people in the community I was sent to help.
“It was always a privilege to invite some of these kids to stay at my hotel in Liverpool. Some of them have never left London and face many of the struggles often associated with disadvantaged, inner-city communities.
“The joy on the faces of the kids when the visited the Shankly Hotel and our football clubs will be something I’ll always remember.”
After becoming bankrupt in 2010, Mr Kenwright battled depression to rebuild his business and said his former business difficulties made him a “better businessman”.
“It’s made me who I am. I am a very good businessman now.”
His company was granted the contract to revamp the derelict building earlier this year.