A company has been awarded £6.2million to build a youth club for thousands of youngsters in Salford. Empower Youth Zones secured the funding via the Youth Investment Fund grant.
The business submitted a planning application in the hope of getting funding. It would make it the sixth youth centre of its kind with buildings in Bolton, Gorton, Harpurhey, Oldham and Wigan.
The funding, for the building next to Belverdere Road and Broadwalk in Pendleton, has now been finalised and will cover all of the building costs. The company will organise a fundraiser to assist with the annual running costs.
The existing youth centres aim to entertain and teach young individuals aged eight to 19. The new youth club will also support those up to the age of 25 with additional needs.
At just 50p per visit and £5 a year, members will have access to over 20 activities each night, including sports like boxing, football and climbing as well as creative arts, music, drama, and employability training.
The Salford youth zone will combine with HideOut Youth Zone and become a single organisation called Empower Youth Zones. It will be a component of the OnSide Network, which supports over 50,000 young people nationwide through its 14 youth zones around the country.
Salford City Council will contribute £1.5 million towards construction costs and £300,000 towards its yearly operating cost. The site preparation and pre-opening expenses for the youth zone will be covered by funding from The Youth Investment Fund.
The aim of youth zones is to keep children fit and active and to keep them out of trouble. Mum Bella King, aged 31, spoke to the M.E.N. about how Manchester Youth Zone in Harpurhey helped her child.
“My boy was getting told off a lot in school, he was just acting bad almost every single day. I honestly think part of that was because of video games.
“He used to just sit inside and play games, the technology available to them is immense so he can play on any device any time anywhere.
“I took him to Manchester Youth Zone once and he loved it, he’s pretty sociable so I think that helped massively. He made friends and wanted to actually go outside and play instead of being cooped up inside.
"His behaviour improved too. He's been going for four months and I've seen changes. All parents should give it a go, your kid might find something he is passionate about too."
Adam Farricker, CEO of Empower Youth Zone, said he was delighted with the announcement.
He said: “We are grateful to have received the full grant from the Youth Investment Fund in this first round.
"Having these costs secured through the Youth Investment Fund means we can begin to focus on kickstarting major work to fund annual running costs.
"We’d like to thank the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Social Investment Business for accepting our application. This is a great start to the Salford Youth Zone story.”
Lucy Frazer, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said: “I want every young person to have the opportunity to access the kinds of life-changing activities which expand their horizons and allow them to develop vital life skills.
“The National Youth Guarantee will provide these opportunities and support young people with access to regular club activities, adventures away from home and volunteering opportunities.
“We are supporting this today with an investment to create or renovate spaces for youth clubs and activities to support opportunities for thousands of young people across the country who would otherwise miss out.”
Work is due to start at the site in August 2023. It is expected to open in early 2025.
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