BUILDING work is now underway on the £6.9 million Warrington Youth Zone – with borough council and other funders attending a socially distanced ground-breaking ceremony.
Among those present were council leader Russ Bowden, chief executive Steven Broomhead and Youth Zone trustee Cllr Jean Carter.
The project has been made possible through council support, including donation of the site in Foundry Street and more than half the building costs.
Warrington Youth Zone will build upon the historic legacy set by Warrington Youth Club, which currently operates out of The Peace Centre but will move its services to the new facility when it is completed.
The facility is being developed by the national charity OnSide Youth Zones and will be run as an independent charity within the ever-growing OnSide network.
Its funding model is based on that of the other 13 OnSide Youth Zones across the country.
This is a unique partnership of the private sector, local authority, young people (via their £5 membership and 50p admission fees) and the community that forms a dynamic four-way, inter-connecting relationship.
This will not only drive the success of the Youth Zone, but will ensure its sustainability.
In more simple times, a grand ground-breaking ceremony would have marked the beginning of the construction. Instead Warrington Youth Zone CEO Dave McNicholl welcomed many of the charity’s funders to the site individually throughout the day.
He said: “For Warrington Borough Council and many of our donors, this day has been a long time coming and it was great to welcome them to the site and see their faces as the vision they had invested into became a physical reality.
“I cannot thank each and every one of them enough. What they are helping create will transform and enhance the lives of thousands of young people in Warrington.
“Our incredible universal offer will be for young people across the whole of Warrington and will provide so many more opportunities for them as well as an incredible network of support, which young people need now more than ever.”
Once open, the Youth Zone will offer young people aged 7-19, and up to 25 for those with additional needs, over 20 activities every day of the week.
Sports will include a four-court sports hall, a multi-use rooftop 3G pitch, a martial arts room, state-of-the-art gym and giant climbing wall.
There will also be a music room with a recording booth, dance studio, arts and crafts areas and a multimedia suite.
When young people pay their 50p entry fee, the first space they walk into will be a large, open plan recreation area, kitted out with table tennis and pool tables with plenty of room for other activities and areas to sit and chill out with friends. There will also be a café, serving hot and nutritious meals for as little as £1 and a designated teaching kitchen where young people will have the opportunity to learn how to cook a wide range of dishes.
Young people are already at the heart of the project, forming a Young People’s Development Group to help with some of its key decision making.
Member Izzy Murphy said: “Warrington Youth Zone will give an even bigger opportunity to lots more young people to come and experience what we have. People will be able to meet new people, make new friends and it’ll help people get on the right path.
“Through the development group, I’ve worked on the branding for the Youth Zone and have been able to travel and visit other OnSide Youth Zones. I’ve been able to share my experiences with other people.”.
For more information about supporting Warrington Youth Zone, email [email protected].
