Launch of The Thousand

Manchester is an ambitious, thriving, modern City; home to football, music and a long history of cultural development and it has a stated aim to be in the top-flight of world-class cities by 2025.

Over the past 20 years the population of Manchester has grown by more than 30% and benefited from increasing success and affluence – but as the economy grows, so has the gap between those that benefit the most and those that benefit the least.

In 2020, more than 40% of children in Manchester are still living below the poverty line and within some of the inner-city neighbourhoods this increases to 60%; in addition, more than the national average of young people aged 16-18 are not in education or employment; there are disproportionately high levels of childhood obesity, health and wellbeing, drugs & alcohol, crime and social mobility issues. Despite this, young people in disadvantaged parts of the City still have huge resilience, aspirations and massive potential, there just don’t always have equal opportunity to realise that full potential.

HideOut Youth Zone, a brand-new children and young people’s charity operating from a state-of-the-art facility being developed in Gorton – East Manchester, aims to tackle these issues and empower young Mancunians. It will provide an extensive range of services allowing young people to participate in positive, inspiring and constructive activities that aid their personal and social development. Some of the facilities include; an employment and enterprise suite, a sports hall; mentoring rooms, a climbing wall, an arts and crafts room, a gym; a music and recording studio as well as a training kitchen offering healthy & inexpensive meals.

It will be open to all young people between the ages of 8-19 years (or up to 25 for those with additional needs). Whenever schools are closed, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year, staffed by an expert team and trained volunteers. For £5 annual membership and only 50p per visit, it will provide a fun, affordable and fully inclusive offer with a choice of at least 20 different activities each session.

In other Onside Youth Zones across the country: 77% of young people attending report increased self-confidence, 73% felt happier, 83% have found work or gone into education and 97% thought their area improved.

Having learned of the challenges faced by the young people of East Manchester and particularly in the neighbourhoods that surround HideOut Youth Zone (Longsight, Ardwick, Gorton), ProManchester wanted to help bring attention to this amazing charity and the launch of a new fundraising campaign: “The Thousand”.

The charity’s fundraising committee wanted to create an initiative that could generate regular and consistent funds to enhance and support core funding as well as providing additional layers of inclusive enrichment activities or subsidising membership or entrance fees.

The premise of the campaign is quite simple; by giving £66.66 + Gift Aid (which increases your donation by 25% at no extra cost) each month, your annual contribution will total £1,000 and you become a much-valued member of “The Thousand”!

If you would like to learn more about this initiative please visit: https://www.hideoutyouthzone.org/the-thousand/ which has details of how to participate and support the future of Manchester.