We’d love to show you around a local Youth Zone, allowing you to see for yourself the impact that these centres make. Simply fill in your details below and a member of the team will be in touch to arrange a visit.
Take a Virtual TourIt’s about opportunity. Potential is everywhere. But while some young people get every opportunity to explore theirs, others don’t.
We’re OnSide, a national youth charity determined to make sure that all young people have the opportunity to shine. The chance to discover their passion and their purpose.
We raise the funds to build a network of state-of-the-art, multimillion-pound youth centres, what we call Youth Zones in the UK’s most disadvantaged areas. These are incredible spaces filled with energy, inspiration and highly skilled youth workers who truly believe in young people.
This is passionate, properly-funded youth provision. A unique partnership between young people and their community, local authorities and private business leadership, and a growing movement of supporters. Together, we believe that all young people need is a chance to discover what they’ve got and where it could take them.
It’s about opportunity.
Learn more about usOnSide is a values driven charity that’s committed to being diverse and inclusive. Click here to read about our values and find out about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion by reading our EDI statement.
Our vision is for every young person across the UK to be happy, healthy, and able to thrive. We want to empower the UK’s youth to lead positive, fulfilling lives by providing access to incredible spaces and excellent youth work, delivered by outstanding people, where they are needed the most.
OnSide wouldn’t be where it is without it’s dedicated board members. Take a look at the people who help to make the Network Youth Zones what they are.
Meet our boardOnSide’s team is made up of some of the most passionate people, who are committed to doing their best to support young people across the country.
Meet our teamTake a look at the latest job opportunities at OnSide and the national Network of Youth Zones and make a difference every day.
Everything we do is about collaboration; our success depends on us working with others who share our vision. Our unique four-way partnership is at the heart of how we create vibrant and thriving Youth Zones. We bring together young people and their community, local authorities and supporters from the private sector (including business and philanthropists) to fund and build each Youth Zone.
By working together, we are able to create a new local youth charity which will go on to support thousands of young people for years to come.
Learn about growing the Network
OnSide’s Network of Youth Zones has an incredible impact on young people. Since 2008 we have raised millions of pounds of funding and built local and national partnerships. We’re proud of the scale of our impact and the difference we are making to thousands of young people. Here are some of the inspiring young people stories that shows the power of youth work and Youth Zones.
OnSide was officially established as a registered charity in 2008, but our story really started over 130 years ago at Bolton Lads and Girls Club. The youth centre opened its doors in 1889, and was one of the first organisations in the North West to provide children and young people with a safe space to go. Visited by over 3,000 young people every week, the Club is open 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year.
In 2006, serial entrepreneur, Bill Holroyd was approached by officials from Bolton Lads and Girls Club to chair the Club’s Board. Bill enthusiastically took on the role and realised very quickly the potential to replicate and bring Bolton’s trailblazing Youth Centre to other towns and cities around the country. It was this vision that inspired Bill to develop the charity OnSide and spearhead the development of Youth Zones across the country.
Youth Zones are brand new, purpose-built spaces fizzing with energy, and crammed with incredible facilities. These youth club, what we call Youth Zones, are staffed by skilled and dedicated youth workers who truly believe in young people – helping them see what they could achieve, and giving them the skills, confidence and ambition to go for it.
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