OnSide

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CEO Kathryn introduces you to OnSide

OnSide is a national youth charity that believes all young people should have the opportunity to discover their passion and their purpose.

OnSide funds and builds state of the art, multi-million pound Youth Zones in the country’s most economically disadvantaged areas and trains the amazing people that run them while offering continued support. These are brand new, purpose-built spaces fizzing with energy, and crammed with incredible facilities.

They 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. This is life changing support that helps tens of thousands of young people from a diverse range of backgrounds to thrive.

Youth Zones are a unique partnership between young people and their community, local authorities and private business leadership, and a growing movement of supporters who believe that how we treat the next generation defines who we are as a society.

OnSide now has 14 open Youth Zones within its network, including three in London, with a number of others in development. Its fourth London Youth Zone, WEST, will open in 2023 in White City.

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Some Charity Stats

  • 50,000 members make around 650,000 visits each year to OnSide’s Youth Zones.

  • The charity has pioneered a diversified funding model that has invested over £187 million in young people through their Network of Youth Zones.

  • A study into the charity’s model found that, on average, every £1 spent on running a Youth Zone delivers £2 back in benefits to society.

  • Created over 1550 jobs for youth workers across the network.

  • 77% of members say they feel more confident as a result of attending a Youth Zone, while 82% of frequent attenders have more friends.

Impact Stories

  • Ben

    Meet Ben, a 19-year-old member at Legacy, Croydon Youth Zone. Ben struggled with his employment status due to severe stress and anxiety. He struggled to commit to activities and being proactive and productive daily. He sought help in a youth pastor at his church, who referred him to Legacy Youth Zone. Below is Ben’s story of how Legacy, Croydon Youth Zone’s employability programme ‘Empowered’ has supported him with coping with mental health and gaining a new job.

    Read Ben’s Story

  • Katie

    Meet Katie, a 17-year-old member at Future, Barking & Dagenham’s Youth Zone. Here is Katie’s story of how she’s grown her confidence, made new friends and built positive relationships with youth workers.

    Read Katie’s Story

  • Jasmine

    Jasmine, a 19-year-old member at the Hive, Wirral Youth Zone. She was referred to The Hive’s mentoring programme by her family support worker to help with her confidence and motivation. Here she shares how, with the support of her mentor Gina, she’s learnt more about herself, has secured a part-time job, is more confident and looks forward to the future, having gained offers from all her universities of choice.

    Watch Jasmine’s Story

     

  • To learn more about why youth centres are important to young people – Watch this video

     

Jobs at OnSide