We had queues out of the doors the day we opened in 2012 and things have gone from strength to strength ever since – each week, this big yellow building of ours welcomes over 1000 visits.
We offer over 20 different activities per evening. Whether it’s a roller disco, personal training in the gym, earning a bike by committing to our bike maintenance course or writing and performing plays, plus there’s a climbing wall, boxing gym, music room and much more!
As the current North West charity of the year, we are proud of the work we do with our young members to raise their aspirations and the targeted provisions that provide additional support to those who need it.
We must be doing a good job because we now have team members working with us who walked through our doors on the first day as nervous new members to see what all the fuss was about!
Even when we access to our building was jeopardised throughout the global pandemic, we were still able to deliver:
We are now looking to our next decade of offering ‘somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to’ for those who need us.
It is tough coming from one of the most deprived areas in the country but here at MYZ, we refuse to accept that young people should get better chances just because they live somewhere else.
We dream big so our members can live big. What do we offer?
Some of our members have already had to be braver than we know in their lives. For others, it can be as simple as being afraid to try something new.
At MYZ we offer a mentoring programme to members of all ages and from relationships with youth workers on session to 1:1 support from volunteer mentors – every voice is heard.
There’s a real emphasis on offering young people positive role models and supporting their needs. We boost their resilience through teaching life skills and encourage young people to take pride in their achievements, knowing they have smashed the challenge of a new activity.
There is always someone here to talk to, to cheer success and help through the inevitable tough times.
Young people need others in their life who never give up on them.
Giving them somewhere safe to go rather than hanging around the streets at night keeps them and the community safer.
Our Junior Choices programme for 9-12-year-olds who are at risk of offending works hard to keep these children safe and give them experiences that will inspire them to make the choice to stay away from trouble.
The RADEQUAL project got into communities early, had the difficult conversations and worked together to address and prevent factors that could lead to radicalisation and extremism.
If you are worried about a young person at Manchester Youth Zone, please complete a Cause for Concern form. All concerns will be dealt with confidentially by our Safeguarding Officer, who may need to get in touch with you to discuss the concern.
We are here to level the playing field for young people who are trying to level up.
No young person should be left behind because of their race, disability, sexuality, nationality, socio-economic background, special educational needs, mental health or religion.
Inclusion improves social mobility for young people from all backgrounds by offering support to develop the skills, knowledge and networks they need to take advantage of opportunities.
We are interested in people who want to reach their full potential.
Inclusion is part of every session with a specific session for young people with additional needs or disabilities on Friday 4-8pm.
The best advert for what we do are the members who choose to continue our mission.
They have benefited from all the advantages MYZ has to offer and decided to give back to their community.
We have had colleagues who had become members of MYZ when they were 11-year-olds and realised what a pivotal role it had played in their lives as they grew up, helping them discover what they want to do as a career and empowering them to achieve it.
Manchester Youth Zone was voted North West Charity of the Year for our work in our community and beyond. We aren’t boasting but we are so much more than an after school club.
We strive to help young people from a wide range of backgrounds, through sport, art, drama, employability training, and social and emotional support. We share our facilities and expertise to benefit the wider community.
Our STEM sessions spread the wonder of science and discovery to 10-14-year-olds online, in person at the Youth Zone, and at local schools and youth organisations. We run cooking programmes for schools, colleges, and charities working with young people. Young people take away important life skills of teamwork, time management and self-reliance as well as formal qualifications in food preparation, nutrition, and customer service ready for the world of work.
If you work with young people and are interested in how MYZ could help, get in touch!
Partnering with us shows you mean business.
Success in your own sector is not enough for you. You are also committed to creating economic, environmental, and social value. Building a reputation as a socially responsible company makes you stand out in a competitive market to customers and employees – and you’re doing something brilliant at the same time, win/win.
Working with us to help young people meet employers, develop their networks, experience mock interviews, undertake work tasters, and interview for live vacancies demonstrates the benefits you’ll contribute to the future workforce.
In return, we can offer volunteering opportunities, support with your ESG and CSR requirements, team-building opportunities and so much more.
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