Salford Youth Zone opens its doors, bringing life-changing opportunities to the city’s young people.

Salford Youth Zone (SYZ) officially opened its doors on 5 July 2025, creating a safe space, something positive to do, and someone trusted to talk to for thousands of young people in the city.

Developed by youth work charity Empower Youth Zones (EMPOWER), who form part of the growing national OnSide Network of youth zones, SYZ builds on the success of HideOut Youth Zone in Gorton, which has supported thousands of young people across Greater Manchester since 2020.

To mark the official opening, SYZ hosted a launch event, bringing together donors, partners, young people, volunteers, community leaders, and families. The event honoured the collective efforts that have made the project possible and showcases the transformative impact the Youth Zone is set to have, with over 2500 members already registered.

At the youth zone, the opportunities for young people are endless and include an outdoor football pitch, a fully equipped gym, a climbing wall, a dance studio, a music and recording studio, a training kitchen, and an art workshop. Alongside a variety of different activities and programmes seven days a week, SYZ will give young people access to free meals, employability skills workshops, and trusted adults to talk to.

SYZ has been made possible by the Done Family, the Youth Investment Fund, and Salford City Council. Their future is underpinned by a unique combination of funders, including local authorities, individuals, the business community, and grants. This is a group united by a determination to support thousands of young people in Manchester and Salford to find their passion and purpose.

In bringing the youth zone to the city, hundreds of paid and voluntary roles have been created from the construction phase to 100+ full-time, part-time time and voluntary opportunities directly working for the charity. This makes EMPOWER one of the largest employers of youth workers in Greater Manchester.

Adam Farricker added:“In a city where too many young people lack access to a safe, supportive environment, this facility will be a hub for these young people to grow and break down barriers. Having been to youth services myself, I know firsthand how life-changing they can be – I’m proud to be extending this opportunity to thousands more young people. Every young person deserves the chance to thrive, and Salford Youth Zone will help make that possible.”