Wigan & Chorley Youth Zones welcome Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP and Andy Cook from the Centre for Social Justice

Two OnSide Youth Zones, Wigan Youth Zone and the newest addition to the OnSide Network, Inspire – Chorley Youth Zone, were today delighted to welcome Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP and Andy Cook from the Centre for Social Justice for a tour of both facilities by OnSide Youth Zones Chair, John Roberts.

Established in 2004, the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) is an independent think tank that studies the root causes of poverty and aims to address them through practical policy interventions, working with the Government to push forward ideas and policies that will promote social justice.

In his capacity as Chair of the CSJ, Rt Hon Duncan Smith MP and Andy Cook CEO, are visiting today to understand and experience the life-changing impact Youth Zones have on young people that access them, from increased physical wellbeing, to better relationships through to higher aspirations – providing opportunities to young people across the UK to lead healthier and happier lives.

OnSide Youth Zones was set up in 2008 to improve young people’s futures by building and supporting places for young people to go, with positive things to do, staffed by people who care, open seven days a week – Youth Zones.  Each Youth Zone offers 20 activities each night ranging from football, climbing and curling to nail art, DJ-ing, drama and employability training, with entry costing young people just 50p per visit.    

John Roberts, Chair of OnSide Youth Zone said: “OnSide Youth Zones is breaking down the barriers that so many young people face, by providing opportunities that inspire, excite and engage our country’s young people, regardless of their background or ability. I was delighted to welcome Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP and Andy Cook to Wigan and Chorley Youth Zone today, to demonstrate to them the amazing difference that OnSide Youth Zones has made to over 40,000 young people across the country, by providing young people with somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to.”