Weekend classes for young people at a Belsize Park arts college have been saved from closure thanks to a generous donation.

The Amy Winehouse Foundation, set up after the singer’s death to help disadvantaged young people, has given Wac Arts £17,125 so that its classes for five to 25-year-olds can run next year.

The college, at Old Hampstead Town Hall in Haverstock Hill, needed to raise £15,000 by the end of last week to continue weekend courses.

The fundraising campaign, called the Longevity Project, was part of its long-term appeal for funds and was launched after the college lost all £100,000 of its Arts Council funding two years ago.

About 600 vulnerable youngsters attend the weekly classes, which include music, dance and drama.

Celia Greenwood, CEO of Wac Arts, said: “We all feel so honoured to be supported by the Amy Winehouse Foundation. “

So many of our members are young artists striving to achieve excellence in their song-writing and music-making.

‘‘To be associated with the name of a great artist, whose work they admire, is a huge privilege.”