Thousands of lives transformed as HideOut celebrates fifth birthday

Manchester September 2025 – HideOut Youth Zone in Gorton, part of the national OnSideNetwork of Youth Zones, is celebrating five years of transforming young lives in Manchester.

Since opening its doors in September 2020 against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, HideOut has supported more than 10,000 young people and welcomed 200,000 visits, becoming a lifeline for the local community. It was established to provide somewhere safe to go, something positive to do and someone trusted to talk to at a time when young people were facing isolation, uncertainty and growing inequality.

Today, the Youth Zone continues to play a vital role in supporting children and families across Greater Manchester, with 90% of its members living in the UK’s most deprived wards. Over the past five years it has provided over 116,000 free hot meals, and hosted over 500 days of Holiday Clubs, alongside the everyday running of sessions including art classes, sports clubs, and cooking lessons. This ensures it is continuing to support the growing population of young people in Manchester with the skills and support needed to unlock and grow their full potential.

Aliyah, a former member of HideOut said: “The experiences that I have had at HideOut have helped me learn more about myself and grow as a person. Throughout my journey, the Youth Workers nurtured and listened to me and encouraged us all to get involved with opportunities that pushed us out of our comfort zone. The HideOut team played a big part in helping me to get into university which has set me on a career path that I might not have believed in myself to pursue before.”

HideOut is operated by the award-winning charity Empower Youth Zones (EMPOWER), which in the last five years has expanded its reach across Manchester and Salford. This summer saw the opening of Salford Youth Zone (SYZ), further strengthening the charity’s mission to provide safe spaces and opportunities for young people in some of the country’s most disadvantaged communities.

To mark its five-year anniversary, HideOut hosted a community celebration on Saturday 27th September, welcoming families and young people to enjoy activities, meet youth workers, and see firsthand the difference the Youth Zone makes every day.

Adam Farricker, CEO of Empower Youth Zones said, “The impact that HideOut has had on our city over the last five years is remarkable, and I know firsthand the difference that access to youth workers can make on a young person’s life. I grew up in Gorton, so deeply understand the challenges that the local community faces daily and how HideOut has truly changed lives by creating opportunities for young people in the area.

“With inequalities continuing to increase – and the number of young people in the region growing – we must work with new and existing partners to ensure that every young person has the opportunity to reach their true potential. 2025 has been a landmark year for EMPOWER, with five years of HideOut and the opening of SYZ this summer and I couldn’t be prouder of everyone involved and am extremely grateful to our donors, staff and volunteers, members, and wider community. As a charity we are always looking to increase our family of supporters so we can continue our   vital work and are working hard to identifynew partners and donors from across the business community that share our ambition to make Greater Manchester the best region for our children and young people to grow, learn, live and work.”