Wigan Youth Zone will be a purpose built, youth facility in the town centre. The facility will be prominently positioned for accessibility and designed to make an impact on the young people of Wigan and surrounding areas.
Wigan Youth Zone is the brainchild of Wigan businessman Dave Whelan, who has with Martin and Bill Ainscough, donated over half the development costs. The scheme is OnSide’s first youth centre to be largely-funded by private sector money and will occupy a striking new purpose-built accommodation at Mesnes Field in Wigan town centre.
With the backing of Wigan Council and the local business community, the Youth Zone will provide a great opportunity for cross-sector partnership to raise the aspirations of the young people of Wigan.
Wigan Youth Zone (WYZ) aims to make a real difference by providing opportunities for young people from across Wigan to come together to meet friends, have new experiences, learn new skills and access the support they need to develop and achieve their potential.
Click here to find out more about the fantastic facilities that Wigan Youth Zone will offer.
Why Wigan?
Over the last 50 years Wigan has faced a sharp industrial decline, leaving the town with high unemployment levels, a decline in infrastructure and lack of investment. This has resulted in Wigan’s young people, mainly in the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods, experiencing an unprecedented range of poverty and deprivation.
Alongside this it is commonly recognised that there is a lack of generic constructive activities available for young people in Wigan. The majority of mentoring, training and youth clubs are geared towards crisis management and young people at risk of criminal activity.
The Challenge
Over the last decade, a concerted effort has been made in Wigan to tackle the economic, environmental and social deprivation following industrial decline in the area. A key challenge is how the young people of Wigan can be included and served better in this regeneration drive.
The regeneration of the Wigan Eastern Gateway and Northern Crescent indicates a clear commitment to the issue of quality facility provision in the town centre. Wigan Youth Zone will support this regeneration and address the clear need for a facility that is dedicated to young people, offering them:
- Somewhere to go
- Something to do
- Someone to talk to
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