Drumming up support for Warrington Youth Zone

VIDEO: Having now seen an Onside Youth Zone in action I will certainly be helping drum up support for the one set to be built to provide a new home for Warrington Youth Club.

Thanks to Paul Griffiths, Major Patron Relationship Manager at Warrington Youth Club and Vice Chairman, local solicitor Tim Jordan , I was given a fascinating insight into an existing Youth Zone, The Hive based in Birkenhead on the Wirral.

Now two years old the one set to be built in Warrington, at a cost of £6.5m will transform youth provision in Warrington, providing a facility open seven days a week, 365 days a year, with an annual membership of just £5 a year and 50p admission. It will cater for youngsters aged seven to nineteen and older ones with disabilities.

We saw The Hive in full flow during the school holidays – and it was certainly a hive of activity.

It certainly has something for everyone with organised activities including art, hairdressing, make-up, boxing, camera clubs, pool tables, gaming machines, chill out areas, a kitchen where youngsters can learn to prepare meals, all supervised by fully qualified and trained staff. The roof top includes a caged three G sports pitch which proves hugely popular.

I even got the opportunity of living the dream of being a drummer in a rock band!

Work is set to start on the Warrington Youth Zone towards the end of September, early October, and will see the 70-year-old Warrington Youth Club become a new Onside Youth Zone, which already has a number of successful facilities across the country.

Warrington Borough Council has already supported the project to the tune of £3m towards the build cost as well as providing the land near Warrington Bus Station, opposite Central Station, making it easily accessible.

But to help with the ongoing day to day running costs it will need the backing of the local business community, with an opportunity of becoming a Founder Patron.

For more details on how to support this exciting new project contact Paul Griffiths at [email protected] or call 07395 789795 and help make a difference to young peoples’ lives in Warrington.