OnSide

A month ago, 224 Youth Zone officially opened its doors. Since then, more than 2,350 young people have signed up as members, with 962 already attending sessions and taking part in activities across 126 hours of youth work delivery, helping to bring the Youth Zone to life and make the most of everything it has to offer. It is fantastic to see so many young people already making 224 their own, and this is only the beginning. 💛

We're proud to see Horizon Youth Zone shortlisted in the Architects’ Journal Retrofit & Reuse Awards 2026. This project shows what's possible when historic buildings are given a new purpose, creating an inspiring space where young people can access opportunities, support and a sense of belonging. Congratulations to everyone involved, and good luck for the awards in September!

🌞 Summer is in full swing, and our Youth Zones are busier than ever as Holiday Clubs return across the Network. This year, our 19 Youth Zones are providing more than 24,000 Holiday Club spaces, giving young people the opportunity to try new activities, discover new interests and build skills and confidence. Youth Zone Holiday Clubs offer everything from sports and arts to music, cooking and much more, helping young people make the most of the summer.

This is good news for young people. Creating more opportunities to gain the skills, experience and confidence needed to succeed in work can only be a positive, particularly in communities where too many young people still face barriers to employment. OnSide CEO Jamie Masraff: "Economic growth and opportunity go hand in hand, and we need to make sure today's young people are equipped to benefit from the jobs being created tomorrow. "At OnSide, and across our Network of 19 Youth Zones, we've seen the difference that strong partnerships between businesses, youth organisations and philanthropists can make. By connecting talented young people in disadvantaged communities with employers through mentoring, work experience and careers support, those partnerships help open doors for young people while giving employers access to future talent. Talent is evenly distributed, opportunity is not. We are more than willing to help with these plans outside of the classroom, where young people spend 85% of their time. "Investment in young people and youth services is proven to break down barriers to employment by building skills, confidence and connections to employers. If we want growth to be felt in every postcode in the country, investing in young people's potential has to be part of the solution."

Great to officially launch our Lidl Foodies Summer Clubs at Legacy Youth Zone, Croydon last week. Young people at the holiday club rolled up their sleeves alongside colleagues from Lidl GB to create delicious, healthy recipes and nutritious smoothies, all while learning practical cooking skills they can take home with them. The sessions are part of our summer partnership with Lidl, which will see around 1,000 young people across five Youth Zones discover the joy of cooking, build confidence in the kitchen and learn how to prepare healthy, affordable meals. A huge thank you to the Lidl team for donating ingredients, sharing their time and helping inspire the next generation of home cooks. Together, we're making healthy eating fun, accessible and practical this summer. #YouthWork #HealthyEating #CommunityPartnership #HolidayActivities #LidlFoodies

Congratulations to Lisa Nandy MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, and Lucy Powell, Secretary of State for Education, on their appointments. We look forward to working with both departments to champion the role of youth work and youth centres in helping young people to develop the skills, confidence, and resilience they need for the future.

Congratulations to Andy Burnham MP on becoming Prime Minister. Having seen first-hand the impact of Youth Zones across Greater Manchester, we look forward to working with the new Government to ensure every young person has access to the opportunities, support and safe spaces they need to thrive wherever they grow up.

We're excited to be partnering with Lidl GB to bring free Lidl Foodies Summer Clubs to young people across five of our Youth Zones. Around 1,000 young people will have the opportunity to take part in fun, hands-on cooking sessions, learning how to prepare healthy, affordable meals while building confidence and valuable life skills. A huge thank you to Lidl GB for creating opportunities that inspire healthier habits, encourage independence, and help young people thrive. #LidlFoodies 224 Youth Zone, The Way Youth Zone, Legacy Youth Zone, Croydon, Mahdlo Youth Zone, Carlisle Youth Zone

Today, OnSide, Future, Barking and Dagenham Youth Zone and our Network remember the brilliant Christopher Lane. We were all devastated to learn of Chris’s untimely passing earlier this year. Today, as his friends and family come together to lay him to rest, we want to pay tribute to a man whose contribution to young lives is immeasurable. Chris was a game changer as we developed our London Youth Zones, particularly in his hometown of Barking and Dagenham, where he went on to play a crucial role at Future Youth Zone. Initially supporting the Young People’s Development Group (YPDG) for Future, Chris soon became a familiar face across our other London YPDGs in Barnet, Croydon, and Hammersmith & Fulham, as well as our Ambassadors for London and network-wide Gamechangers groups. Whether it was attending regular meetings to help young people shape their Youth Zone by sharing their thoughts and opinions, or supporting countless events across the capital—from the House of Lords to pounding the streets during the Lord Mayor’s Show - Chris would do anything he could to ensure young people were given exceptional opportunities that opened doors and broadened horizons. Chris was everything a youth worker should be: thoughtful, honest, empathetic, and a true champion for young people. He went on to hold various roles at Future, starting as a volunteer before eventually leading the charity’s targeted youth work provision. Always supporting young people and helping youth work colleagues to develop and grow. Chris also spent time at The Way Youth Zone in Wolverhampton, where he played a pivotal leadership role, helping to shape and strengthen the charity’s offer to the city’s young people. His influence was felt across the organisation, leaving a lasting impact on both colleagues and the countless young people who benefited from his dedication. Young people loved Chris. His colleagues loved him. The community loved him. Today, our thoughts are with Chris’s friends and family, and everyone at Future Youth Zone, where he was, quite simply, adored. Thank you for everything, Chris. Your legacy lives on in the difference you made to so many young lives.