Local Young People ‘Inspire’ Chorley Youth Zone brand

Local young people have officially launched their brand ‘Inspire – Do your thing’ which will go down in history for years to come, as the name for Chorley’s new Youth Zone.

Over 20 different names, ideas and designs were narrowed down to just six which then saw over 400 young people from across Chorley vote on their favourite with Inspire – Do your thing the clear winner with over 60% of the votes.

After months of hard work, the young people of Chorley, kitted out in their new-look t shirts (pictured), were joined at The Arts Partnership – the site of the new Youth Zone – by Arts Partnership Chairman Gwynne Furlong, newly appointed Youth Zone Chairman Andrew Turner, Chorley Council Leader Alistair Bradley, local designer Darren Hayward and our very own Dr Mark Ward.

As with any of our Youth Zone projects, young people are at the forefront and the group, made up of current members from the Arts Partnership as well as members from other local community groups, have spent the last few months working with local design agency Fertile Frog to come up with a brand for their new youth facility.

The young people involved, who are known as the Young People’s Development Group for the Youth Zone, presented their winning design at a board meeting last week.

Anne Marie Gaskell, a member of the Young People’s Development Group, said: “We chose Inspire as the name of our new Youth Zone because we feel being unique is important. It will hopefully ‘inspire’ other people who don’t usually take part in activities, to come and join us, in an inclusive environment, doing their own, individual thing. The process has given me responsibility and the fact we have created something the young people of Chorley have liked makes me feel proud. ‘Inspire’ will belong to Chorley and we cannot wait to see the sign up at the site of the Youth Zone.”

Here the thoughts of the Young People’s Development Group here: 

Newly appointed Youth Zone Chair Andrew Turner, who also heads up The Chorley Group, one of the largest volume Nissan dealers in Europe, said: “It’s imperative young people have their say and it’s equally important that this process in which the young people have contributed so much to is recognised. The group, along with Darren at Fertile Frog have come up with a fantastic image and branding for Chorley Youth Zone and I was delighted with the brand presentation at the recent board meeting.

“At the Chorley Group, we employ 220 people with over 50% under the age of 24. I value young people, they are the future. Now we have a brand for the Youth Zone I feel this will help us as we work together on the project for the benefit of the young people of Chorley.”

Alistair Bradley, Leader of Chorley Council said: “There are exciting times ahead for young people in Chorley with the creation of the new Chorley Youth Zone. The fact that so many have got involved to choose the branding for it is fantastic. The brand is something they can identify with, feel part of and be proud of, and I’m sure that it will ‘inspire’ many others to get involved as the scheme moves forward.”

The Youth Zone is being created in partnership with Chorley Council, the Arts Partnership, Lancashire County Council and OnSide to make the new facility a reality for Chorley’s young people.

Chorley Youth Zone has a proposed site on Railway Street, where The Arts Partnership and Leigh Arms currently stands and will be a purpose-built facility for the town’s young people aged 8 – 19, and up to 25 for those with disabilities.

The Youth Zone would offer close to 20 activities each night ranging from football, boxing, climbing and curling to nail art, DJ-ing, drama and employability training all for just 50p per visit.