£6.2m build cost awarded for Salford Youth Zone
A £6.2m Youth Investment Fund grant to build a new purpose-built youth centre in Salford has been awarded to Empower Youth Zones.
It means the project has secured all of its building costs and will now focus on fundraising its annual running costs, which will come from private sector and philanthropic contributions.
Subject to plans being approved, the Youth Zone is expected to open in early 2025 and will be located next to Belverdere Road and Broadwalk in Pendleton. It will provide thousands of young people with opportunities to engage in activities and access support from skilled youth workers, helping them to develop their skills and reach their full potential.
Salford Youth Zone is being delivered with the support of Salford City Council, by Empower Youth Zones which also operates HideOut Youth Zone in Gorton, Manchester, in partnership with national youth charity OnSide and local businessman and philanthropist, Fred Done.
Salford City Council is contributing £1.5m towards the construction costs and £300,000 of its annual £1.5m running costs. The Youth Investment Fund grant will also go towards the Youth Zone’s site preparation and pre-opening costs.
Once opened, Salford Youth Zone will join HideOut Youth Zone, and the two sites will be managed via the single umbrella charity, Empower Youth Zones.
It will be part of the OnSide Network of 14 Youth Zones nationwide, supporting more than 50,000 young people.
Youth Zones are open to young people aged between eight and 19 – up to 25 for those with additional needs – seven days a week, for just 50p a visit.
Salford Youth Zone is one of 43 youth services in England to benefit from the first wave of Youth Investment Fund grants, announced by the funder, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the charity Social Investment Business, which is delivering the grant programme in partnership with Key Fund, National Youth Agency and Resonance.
Adam Farricker, CEO of Empower Youth Zone, said: “We are grateful to have received the full grant from the Youth Investment Fund in this first round.
“With the cost-of-living impacting planning and production of Salford Youth Zone by increasing price of labour and materials in the initial build, having these costs secured through the Youth Investment Fund means we can begin to focus on kick-starting major work to fund annual running costs.”
City Mayor, Paul Dennett, said: “It’s so important we help young people achieve their potential – they are our future and they will work with us to shape this exciting new development. The youth zone will be a positive addition to other youth facilities and services in Salford and will also bring jobs and volunteering opportunities.”
Empower Youth Zones is waiting for plans to be approved for the new Youth in Salford Zone and, if successful, work is due to start on site this August.
