One of the youth projects benefitting from the first rounds of the Youth Investment Fund is Horizon Youth Zone in Grimsby.
The new Grimsby-based project will be delivered by OnSide in partnership with the Youth Investment Fund, North East Lincolnshire Council, National Lottery Heritage Fund, Ørsted, St. James’s Place Charitable Foundation, and private donors.
The Youth Investment Fund grant will cover 50% of the project costs. Horizon Youth Zone is a large construction project, due to start on site in February 2023 and hopes to open its doors to young people in late 2024. It will benefit around 4,000 young people across Grimsby and will also help to transform the local area and economy, forming part of a broader regeneration plan for the town and creating up to 70 full and part time jobs and 100 volunteering opportunities. It will be the 16th Youth Zone developed by OnSide.
Named Horizon Youth Zone by local young people, it will be an inspirational, locally owned community asset in the heart of the town that will drive positive change for young people for generations to come. For the local community, this new space for young people, overlooking the river Freshney, will be a symbol of a renewed belief in the potential of young people. For young people, including those that have been involved in the development of its name and design, it means having a safe and inspiring place to be part of.
Horizon Youth Zone has been a passion for young people, the local community, and the OnSide team since 2019. Despite incredible support from partners, it experienced a number of setbacks, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic and an increase in costings. It simply would not be possible without the support of the Youth Investment Fund. The impact of the Youth Investment Fund will be huge – driving positive change for thousands of young people in Grimsby, by transforming a 3,000sqm site at West Haven Maltings into a state-of-the-art Youth Zone with incredible facilities.
This important investment enables us to progress to the next exciting chapter in the development of Horizon Youth Zone. Backing from the Youth Investment Fund means that Grimsby’s young people will be able to benefit from the vital support and countless opportunities that a Youth Zone brings, at a time when they desperately need to be supported and prioritised.
Jamie Masraff
Chief Executive, OnSide Youth Zones
Horizon Youth Zone will open seven days a week. Horizon Youth Zone will offer a sensory room, climbing wall, kick pitch, sports hall, music room, dance studio, training kitchen, arts and crafts room, employability suite, gym and more. It will be staffed by skilled and dedicated youth workers, supported by a team of committed volunteers.
Young people will also have access to targeted support both in house and through external specialist services, creating a seamless link between the Youth Zone and local services.
As a teenager growing up in Grimsby, that has been involved in this project from the start, I want to say a huge thank you to the Youth Investment Fund. It means a lot to finally see this amazing project happen for thousands of young people. Without a shadow of a doubt the young people of Grimsby have some exciting things to look forward to!
Izzy Russell
Former Horizon Young People’s Development Group member (and now a trainee youth worker at OnSide)
