First London youth zone to open in 2018

Barking and Dagenham Council has said it will team up with youth charity OnSide to build a £6m youth zone in the borough.

The new facilities will be designed to provide eight- to 19-year-olds, and those aged up to 25 with a disability, with affordable, seven-day access to a broad range of sport, arts, health and employability services.

It is earmarked to open in early 2018.

The council is set to pay £3m towards construction, with a further £2.1m coming from the Queen’s Trust and £1.5m from the Jack Petchey Foundation.

Darren Rodwell, leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, said the local authority has aspirations to develop the borough and make it a place that residents can be proud of.

“Investing in our young people is integral to this, and this project is a fantastic opportunity to provide our young people with access to an inspiring, quality and affordable facility," he added.
 
“Whilst cuts from central government mean we need to make significant savings that will undoubtedly affect services, we recognise that this is a time to embrace a new way of working and we welcome this collaboration with the private and voluntary sector.”

OnSide has already successfully worked with councils to establish eight youth zones in the North and Midlands since 2008 and has plans in place to create another 12 by 2020.

Kathryn Morley, chief executive of OnSide Youth Zones, said: “This agreement represents a major boost for the community in Barking and Dagenham and a significant milestone in our mission to ensure young people have appealing and safe places to undertake healthy and productive activities in their leisure time.

“Our funding and operational frameworks have proved successful and sustainable elsewhere in the UK so we’re excited and proud that this model will be extended into London for the first time.”

A recent study into three youth zones found the average cost of operating them was £1.31m a year but they delivered an average “social value” of £2.66m.