It’s been an exciting first month for Salford Youth Zone (SYZ), the vibrant new youth hub dedicated to empowering young people across Salford. Following a much anticipated grand opening last month, this purpose-built facility has already exceeded expectations, becoming a beacon of opportunity, confidence, and community engagement for young people in Salford.
Located near Salford Crescent, SYZ is more than just a youth centre, it’s a cornerstone of the wider regeneration initiative spearheaded by ECF, in collaboration with Salford City Council and Salford University. SYZ offers young people aged 8 to 19 (and up to 25 for those with additional needs) a safe, welcoming environment packed with opportunities.
Membership is completely free, and each visit costs just 50p, including access to over 20 evening activities, support from skilled youth workers, and a hot, nutritious meal.
The impact in its first month has been extraordinary. SYZ saw an impressive 5,366 attendances and served 3,391 hot meals throughout July alone. Since operations began on June 2nd, SYZ has hosted 11,375 attendances and provided 7,652 meals, rapidly becoming a crucial part of many young people’s lives.
The Youth Zone set an ambitious initial membership target of 1,000 members by the official opening day on July 5th. Remarkably, membership now stands at 3,778, surpassing the end-of-year target of 3,000 well ahead of schedule.
Supported by key members of the wider Domis Group, Domis played a key role as the main contractor, responsible for the construction and ongoing maintenance of Salford Youth Zone, helping transform the vision of the project’s stakeholders into a vibrant, functional community hub.
Gary Connors, Project Lead for SYZ, shared his message:
“It’s been a privilege to lead this project on behalf of Domis. Thank you to everyone involved for the support in bringing this incredible space to life. Since opening, it’s become more than just a building, it’s a place where young people are finding direction, building confidence, and shaping their futures.”
Kingsley Thornton, Managing Director of Domis, added:
“Delivering Salford Youth Zone has been a true privilege for Domis, marking our second Youth Zone in partnership with Empower Youth Zones. From the moment we broke ground, it was clear this was more than just a construction project, it was about building a chapter of change for the young people of Salford. Bringing the vision of the Done Family, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Salford City Council, and all project partners to life has been a proud journey. To now see the Youth Zone thriving with energy and purpose is incredibly rewarding. This space is already making a real difference, and Domis is proud to have played a part in turning that vision into reality.”
SYZ is delivered through Empower Youth Zones, part of the national OnSide Network. EMPOWER’s mission is to ensure every young person has access to a safe space, positive activities, and trusted guidance. As Greater Manchester’s largest employer of youth workers, EMPOWER blends grassroots engagement with professional youth services, providing thousands of young people with life-enhancing opportunities.
Become a part of this inspiring community today, membership is completely free:
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