A new partnership has been formed between Salford-born businessman Fred Done, Salford City Council and youth based charity, Empower Youth Zones. With the support of national youth charity OnSide, the partnership will use their combined experience and skills to dramatically expand the opportunities available to young people in Salford, through the creation of a brand-new Youth Zone.
Youth Zones are state-of-the-art spaces for young people filled with incredible facilities and staffed by highly skilled youth workers that believe in young people and help them to achieve their potential.
The new Youth Zone, which will take over two years to develop, will be located in the heart of Salford, close to Salford Crescent train station and the University of Salford. This is still subject to further feasibility assessments and to a formal planning consultation and application proposed to take place later this year.
Salford Youth Zone will be based around OnSide’s successful model, which has seen the charity develop 14 similar Youth Zones across the country. There are currently five Youth Zones in the Greater Manchester area, HideOut Youth Zone in Gorton, Manchester Youth Zone in Harpurhey, Mahdlo Youth Zone in Oldham, Wigan Youth Zone, and Bolton Lads and Girls Club. Aimed at young people aged eight to 19, or up to 25 for those with additional needs, it will open 7 days a week and support approximately 4,000 young people. Members will have the opportunity to access over 20 activities every night, ranging from sports such as football, boxing and climbing, to creative arts, music, drama, and employability training – all for just 50p per visit and £5 annual membership.
In addition to the advanced facilities, trained youth workers and dedicated volunteers will be available 7 days a week to offer guidance and support to help Salford’s young people to thrive. The Youth Zone will create up to 70 full and part time jobs and up to 100 volunteering opportunities.
Partnership working will be at the heart of Salford Youth Zone which will be an asset to the community, complimenting and working together with other local services that support young people in the area.
Fred Done, Salford City Council, Empower Youth Zones and OnSide believe all young people should have the opportunity to discover their passion and their purpose. They will develop the new state-of-the-art, multimillion-pound Salford Youth Zone through a unique partnership between young people and their communities, the local authority, and private business supporters. Salford Youth Zone, which will be named and owned by Salford’s young people, will join forces with Manchester based Youth Zone – HideOut Youth Zone – under a single charity umbrella to deliver activities and create new opportunities that support Salford and Manchester’s young people to improve their lives now and in the future.
A major proportion of the upfront costs to build the new Youth Zone will be funded through the support of Fred Done and Salford City Council, with further funding actively being sought. Fred has already supported HideOut Youth Zone and experienced first-hand the impact Youth Zones have on local young people’s lives. He is now determined to provide young people from his home city with the opportunities and support that a Youth Zone brings.
The support of local businesses, philanthropists and the local community to get behind the project and together raise the remaining building and running costs to develop the Youth Zone is now being saught.
Salford-born businessman Fred Done said: “Having been born and raised in Salford, I know just how much young people in the area would benefit from the opportunities available through a Youth Zone. I have had the pleasure of supporting HideOut Youth Zone in Gorton to open its doors to thousands of local young people, across Manchester and now it’s time to take this to Salford and change the lives of many more.”
Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “First of all a huge thank you goes to Fred Done for his generous donation, without which the likelihood of delivering a Youth Zone for Salford and investing further in youth services simply would not be possible. “The young people of Pendleton and Salford rightly deserve to see this investment in state-of-the-art youth facilities on their doorstep in our great city, after years of cuts to youth services across the country and underfunding by national government of what should be statutory services. The Youth Zone will offer so many services, experiences and activities within the area seven days a weeks, helping our young people achieve their potential, whilst also providing a much needed environment for young people to come together, socialise, enjoy themselves and importantly have fun!
“Today at the Property and Regeneration Meeting (Monday 25 July) the City Council agreed to help finance the project with a £1.5million contribution from the City Council’s capital budget, building on investments the City Council already make into Integrated Youth Support Services and further demonstrating our commitment to youth services and young people in Salford.
“It is so fitting that Fred, who started business in Pendleton in the 1960s, will make a difference for future generations in the area. We often say that “our young people are the future”, its great to see us demonstrating this in the delivery of the first Youth Zone in Salford – I’m really looking forward to seeing the Youth Zone complete and meeting the young who will use this fantastic facility, including this that will help shape its delivery.”
Councillor Cammell, Lead Member for Children’s and Young People’s Services at Salford City Council, said: “We are really pleased to be working with partners on developing this new youth zone. It will be a positive addition to other youth facilities and services in Salford. We want to ensure young people have a wide range of opportunities to have successful futures, they are empowered to gain new experiences and skills, build their confidence and improve their health and wellbeing. The new centre will also bring jobs and volunteering opportunities for people in the city.”
The participation of local young people to deliver a vibrant Youth Zone facility will be crucial. A Young People’s Development Group will make several key decisions for the Youth Zone, from naming and branding the Youth Zone, to interviewing potential staff members.
For more information around the development of Salford Youth Zone, and how you can support this please contact Amanda Coverdale (Amanda.Coverdale@salfordyouthzone.org)
