July 2025 – The 5th of July 2025 marks the official opening of Salford Youth Zone (SYZ). Creating somewhere safe to go, something positive to do and someone trusted to talk to for thousands of young people in the city.
Developed by youth work charity Empower Youth Zones (EMPOWER), who form part of the growing national OnSide Network of youth zones, SYZ builds on the success of HideOut Youth Zone in Gorton, which has supported thousands of young people across Greater Manchester since 2020.
To mark the official opening, SYZ is hosting a launch event today, bringing together donors, partners, young people, volunteers, community leaders, and families. The event honours the collective efforts that have made the project possible and showcases the transformative impact the Youth Zone is set to have, with over 2500 members already registered.
Membership for young people is free, with a 50p charge per session. At the youth zone, the opportunities for young people are endless and include an outdoor football pitch, fully equipped gym, climbing wall, dance studio, music and recording studio, training kitchen, and art workshop. Alongside a variety of different activities and programmes seven days a week, SYZ will give young people access to free meals, employability skills workshops, and trusted adults to talk to.
SYZ has been made possible by the unwavering commitment of the Done Family, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Salford City Council. Our future is underpinned by a unique combination of funders including local authorities, individuals, the business community and grants. This is a group united by a determination to support thousands of young people in Manchester and Salford to find their passion and purpose.
In bringing the youth zone to the city, hundreds of paid and voluntary roles have been created from the construction phase to 100+ full, part time and voluntary opportunities directly working for the charity. This makes EMPOWER one of the largest employers of youth workers in Greater Manchester.
Adam Farricker, CEO of EMPOWER, said: “The opening of Salford Youth Zone is an incredibly significant moment for our team and the city of Salford. After months of planning and collaboration, it’s incredibly rewarding to see our vision become reality.
“In a city where too many young people lack access to a safe, supportive environment, this facility will be a hub for these young people to grow and break down barriers. Having been to youth services myself, I know first-hand how life changing they can be – I’m proud to be extending this opportunity to thousands more young people. Every young person deserves the chance to thrive, and Salford Youth Zone will help make that possible.”
Paul Dennett, Mayor of Salford and Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester, commented: “An investment in young people is an investment in a community’s future, and Salford Youth Zone is a fantastic addition to both the city of Salford and Greater Manchester as a whole. EMPOWER’s success with HideOut Youth Zone has shown how life-changing youth work is, and we’re extremely proud to support the team as they create a future where every young person can grow and succeed.”
Councillor Teresa Pepper from Salford City Council, added: “The opening of the Youth Zone is a significant milestone for our city and really complements our ambition to become a Child Friendly City. We are always striving to deliver the best possible outcomes for our young people, and the Youth Zone will offer vital support – somewhere to go, something to do, and someone to talk to. It also provides new jobs in Salford and volunteering opportunities that will enhance the futures of our adult residents.”
ENDS
Press contacts:
Alesha Sinclair, MC2: aleshas@thisismc2.com
About SYZ:
SYZ (Salford Youth Zone) is a purpose-built Youth Zone dedicated to providing Salford’s young people with a youth team ready to empower young people and shape their community, ensuring that young people have the confidence to dream big, achieve more, and shape a future full of possibility. The new Youth Zone is opening in July 2025 and is located at 51 Belvedere Road, Salford, M6 5EJ.
SYZ has been developed by Empower Youth Zones and Salford City Council. The Youth Zone will be open seven days a week, with more than 20 activities on offer every session for young people aged eight to 19, or up to 25 for those with an additional need or disability.
The future and delivery of SYZ is being secured by its patrons – a group of individuals and companies united by a determination to support thousands of young people in Manchester and Salford to find their passion and purpose.
This centre for young people in Salford is being developed by Empower, the umbrella charity that also oversees the operations of HideOut Youth Zone in Manchester. It will be part of the growing national OnSide Network of Youth Zones.
For more information on SYZ, please contact comms@salfordyouthzone.org
About Empower Youth Zones: Empower Youth Zones, part of the national Onside Network, is a youth work charity that exists to create a future where every young person has the opportunity to grow and succeed. Its mission is to give young people somewhere safe to go, something positive to do and someone trusted to talk to.
EMPOWER provides life-enhancing opportunities in its purpose-built youth centres, called Youth Zones, in Salford and Manchester, equipping thousands of young people with the support, skills, and confidence to dream big, achieve more, and shape a future full of possibility.
As the largest employer of youth workers in Greater Manchester, EMPOWER combines grassroots community engagement with professional training.
