Mayor visits £12m Salford Youth Zone to mark its progress

The Salford Mayor said he pictures the new £12 million Salford Youth Zone “transforming people lives” in the city.

The Mayor Paul Dennett visited the construction site for the youth zone (SYZ) on Belvedere Road today (May 20) to celebrate its progress so far.

Mayor Dennett said: “Today is about making further progress in our city where we demonstrate children and young people are our future.

“I don’t need to tell all of you today how children and young people within society have been disenfranchised. Look at the housing market, look at higher education and what’s changed over the course of time. We need to do more for children and young people. 

“We envisage this facility transforming people’s lives (and) giving children and young people opportunities.”

SYZ is expected to be completed in early 2025 and will supposedly provide an answer to the lack of youth provisions in the city.

Salford’s MP Rebecca Long-Bailey, who visited the construction site today, said: “We’ve had so much money cut from our local government in the last 15 years, we just don’t have enough youth service provision in Salford and there’s not enough for children and young people to do. 

“But this is going to be so important, it’s going to bring communities together and broaden horizons.”

Works on the youth zone have been made possible through funding from multiple investors including the Salford businessman and philanthropist, Fred Done, who donated £6 million. There has also been additional support from the DCMS, Youth Investment Fund, Salford City Council and others.

However, the Mayor stated that there is still “so much to do on the agenda” for the zone and that partnerships with the local government and businesses are “really, really critical in making this happen.”

The development plans will see a purpose-built youth centre open seven-days-a-week, with more than 20 activities on offer for young people aged eight to 19.

Sessions will also be on offer for those up to 25 with an additional need or disability.

Adam Farricker, CEO of Empower Youth Zone, said: “Salford Youth Zone creates a unique partnership between young people, their community, local authorities, private business leadership and a growing movement of supporters. Today’s turnout fills us with immense joy and reconfirms the significance of this facility.”