Final piece in the Jigsaw for HideOut Youth Zone

The Jigsaw Foundation - a community fund run by housing group Jigsaw - has awarded £25,000 funding to HideOut Youth Zone.

The new Gorton-based state-of-the-art youth centre in East Manchester (pictured) is presently being built and due to officially open this summer. The funding is to help the centre recruit staff and volunteers.

The new facility will be open seven days a week, providing a diverse range of activities for young people in the area, including a sports hall, performing arts studio, recording studio, boxing and martial arts ring, fitness suite, sensory room, climbing wall, arts and crafts, dressmaking, hairdressing, cookery, film and digital media.

With very few accessible facilities for young people in Gorton and the surrounding boroughs, HideOut Youth Zone will provide new and exciting opportunities for around 3,000 of the area’s eight to 19-year-olds, and up to 25 for those with additional needs.

Adam Farricker, Chief Executive at HideOut Youth Zone said: “We’re incredibly excited to open our doors to the community of East Manchester and beyond. HideOut Youth Zone (named by 2,000 local young people) will offer over 20 activities a night, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year, ensuring every young person in the city has somewhere safe to go, fun and engaging activities to do, and a supportive adult to talk to.”

Suzanne Bullock, assistant director of Neighbourhoods at Jigsaw Group, said: “Jigsaw is thrilled to support this project.  Our strong financial position means that we can provide help and assistance to local social enterprises and charities through Jigsaw Foundation funding grants. 

“HideOut Youth Zone came to us with a strong case and we’re more than happy to provide funding to help them get the staff they need in order to launch such an exciting project that will help thousands of young people in Gorton and the surrounding areas.”

With the launch only months away, HideOut Youth Zone is now in the process of recruiting staff and volunteers to help run the various clubs and activities on offer. 

They are reaching out to the local community to find experienced youth workers, sports trainers, arts specialists, as well as registering up to 100 volunteers.

As part of the terms and conditions for receiving funding, Jigsaw Foundation has set targets of recruiting a certain number of volunteers and staff members from Jigsaw’s own neighbourhoods, so any tenants of Jigsaw’s various subsidiary landlords are encouraged to apply.

Although the applications have now closed for the first round of paid roles, anyone interested in applying for volunteering roles can visit HideOut Youth Zone’s website www.hideoutyouthzone.org to apply.

Jigsaw Foundation will soon be opening up applications for this year’s round of community grant funding. Community projects in Greater Manchester that require funding can visit foundation.jigsawhomes.org.uk