Planning permission granted for Crewe Youth Zone

National youth charity, OnSide has received planning approval for a new Youth Zone in Crewe.

The state-of-the-art youth centre will provide young people with opportunities to engage in activities and access support from skilled youth workers, helping them to develop their skills and reach their full potential.

Expected to open in 2025, the Youth Zone will be located on the Oak Street Car Park to the south of the town centre. Crewe Youth Zone will be open to young people aged 8-19, and up to 25 for those with additional needs, 7 days a week.

For just £5 annual membership, plus 50p per visit, young people will have access to world class facilities including a four-court sports hall, rooftop 3G outdoor kick pitch, gym and boxing and martial arts room for sports, as well as a music room with a built-in recording studio, arts and crafts area, climbing wall, dance studio, sensory room, and mentoring kitchen. The Youth Zone will deliver skills and employability workshops in a dedicated enterprise and employability suite, as well as a wide range of programmes, services and activities. Hot, nutritious meals will be available for just £1 from the Youth Zone’s café.  

In addition to the incredible facilities, trained youth workers and dedicated volunteers will be available 7 days a week to offer guidance and support to help Crewe’s young people to thrive. It will create up to 70 full and part-time jobs and up to 100 volunteering opportunities. 

Crewe Youth Zone is being delivered by OnSide, in partnership with Cheshire East Council and Crewe Town Board who will contributing towards the building and running costs. In March it was confirmed that the Youth Zone will receive a grant from the DCMS’ Youth Investment Fund which means all of the building costs have now been secured and focus will turn to raising the remainder of the running costs which will come from private sector and philanthropic donations.

It will join the OnSide network of 14 similar Youth Zones supporting over 50,000 young people with locations in Bolton, Blackburn, Carlisle, Wigan, Manchester, Oldham, Wolverhampton, Wirral, Chorley, Warrington, Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Croydon and East Manchester. While OnSide will develop and oversee the build of the Youth Zone, once open it will be run as an independent, local charity with a private-sector-led board.

Crewe Youth Zone Chair Graham Ramsbottom said: 

“This is an important milestone in the Crewe Youth Zone journey and exciting news for young people living in Crewe and beyond. Youth Zones are inspirational places that give young people support from trusted youth workers, and countless opportunities, from meeting new friends to finding their passions. So much hard work has gone into getting us to this point and I want to thank everybody who has helped make this dream a reality.”

Councillor Carol Bulman, lead member for children and families at Cheshire East Council, said:

“The youth zone has now taken a huge step closer to providing a wide range of leisure, sport, health and wellbeing support for the young people of Crewe and the surrounding area.

“Our young people tell us on many occasions that improving on the number of positive things to do is one of their main priorities.

“I look forward to seeing the plans progress, delivering a service that will not only improve the health and wellbeing of young people, but will also help drive their aspirations for the future.”

Doug Kinsman, chair of Crewe Town Board, said:

“The Town Board were delighted and proud to be able to provide the initial funding to kick-start this exciting project, as part of the Towns Fund package secured for Crewe. The facility will deliver a step change for youth provision within the town, creating an inspirational environment in which young people can develop to their full potential, well supported and nurtured by a professional team of youth workers.”

Nick Temple, CEO for Social Investment Business said: 

“The Youth Investment Fund is enabling more young people to benefit from the life-changing impact of youth work across England, giving them the best opportunities to thrive. It’s hugely exciting to see the Onside Crewe project coming to life, it’s one of the first projects to benefit from the Youth Investment Fund. With planning secured, it means a brand-new youth centre is now in sight. It’s an exciting day for young people across Crewe, who can look forward to exciting new opportunities to help expand their horizons, have fun, and develop vital skills for life.”

Local young people will have the opportunity to get involved in helping to shape their new Youth Zone. Working in partnership with the council and existing providers, OnSide will set up a Young People’s Development Group of local young people who will meet regularly to make key decisions for the Youth Zone, including supporting with the design and branding, and interviewing potential staff members. 

For further updates on progress visit our website: 

www.onsideyouthzones.org

Pictured - Crewe Youth Zone exterior.