Crewe Youth Zone has been awarded a £6.4million Youth Investment Fund grant - enough to build the new state-of-the-art youth centre.  

The Youth Investment Fund grant was officially secured on Monday 27 March, meaning Crewe Youth Zone has secured all of its £8.3 million building costs.

It will now focus on fundraising the remainder of its annual running costs - largely coming from private sector and philanthropic contributions.

Crewe Youth Zone is being delivered by national charity OnSide, in partnership with Cheshire East Council and Crewe Town Board (OnSide).

Subject to submitted plans being approved, the Youth Zone is expected to open in Spring 2025 - built on the Oak Street Car Park to the south of the town centre.

Crewe Youth Zone will provide thousands of young people with opportunities to engage in activities and access support from skilled youth workers, helping them to develop their skills and reach their full potential.  

The new facility is being delivered by national charity OnSide, in partnership with Cheshire East Council and Crewe Town Board.

Funding from the council and Crewe's allocation from the government's Towns Fund will also contribute towards construction costs. 

The Youth Investment Fund grant will also go towards the Youth Zone's site preparation and pre-opening costs. 

Once opened, Crewe Youth Zone will be an independent charity with a private-sector led board, including local representatives.

Youth Zones are open to young people aged between eight and 19 (up to 25 for those with additional needs) (OnSide).

It will be part of the OnSide Network of 14 Youth Zones nationwide, supporting over 50,000 young people.

Youth Zones are open to young people aged between eight and 19 (up to 25 for those with additional needs), seven days a week, for 50p a visit.

Members will have access to an indoor climbing wall, four court sports hall, training kitchen, music room with a recording studio, fully equipped gym, dance and drama studio, 3G kick pitch, arts and crafts room, enterprise and employability suite.  

Executive director of children's services at Cheshire East Council, Deborah Woodcock, said: "Now, more than ever, we need to support children and young people to have the best start in life. 

"This funding will help the collaboration between OnSide, the council and wider partnerships, to provide services that focus on skills, leisure, sport, health and wellbeing and drive aspirations for the future. 

The Oak Street Youth Zone will create 70 full and part-time jobs - as well as 100 volunteering opportunities (Ryan Parker).

"Our young people tell us that health and wellbeing is one of their biggest concerns. 

"Reducing health inequalities is also one of this council's top priorities, so it's great to see the youth zone project take a huge step forward to helping our young people be happy, healthy, safe and to give them the skills to thrive. 

"I look forward to following the project as it progresses and seeing the impact this wonderful facility will have on the lives of young people in Crewe and beyond." 

Trained youth workers and dedicated volunteers will be available seven days a week to offer guidance and support at the youth centre - helping Crewe's young people to thrive.

The Oak Street Youth Zone will create 70 full and part-time jobs - as well as 100 volunteering opportunities. 

Crewe Youth Zone will be open seven days a week, for 50p a visit (OnSide).

Crewe and Nantwich MP, Dr Kieran Mullan, was delighted with the Youth Investment Fund grant announcement.

Dr Mullan added: "The Crewe Youth Zone, run by Onside, will bring much-needed new youth facilities to Crewe.

"One thing I have always wanted is for young people to benefit from levelling up, and one thing that has been highlighted to me on numerous occasions is the need for more things for young people to do in Crewe. 

"We already have seen youth funding through the Crewe Town Deal, such as the boxing club at the Mirion Street Youth Club and upgrading the facilities at the Cumberland Arena.

Crewe and Nantwich MP, Dr Kieran Mullan, was delighted with the Youth Investment Fund grant announcement (Conservatives UK).

"We can always go further in providing more opportunities for our young people. I am therefore really pleased to see this investment has been confirmed." 

OnSide is awaiting approval on plans for the Youth Zone. If successful, work is due to start on site in 2024.

READ MORE: Air ambulance lands on Crewe roundabout after person 'taken ill' at railway station.

Free from clickbait, pop-up ads and unwanted surveys, Crewe Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our town.

Subscribe to our FREE weekly newsletter email HERE - just click the 'SIGN UP' button.

Please consider following Crewe Nub News on Facebook or Twitter.