The Hargreaves Foundation supports Blackburn Youth Zone

The Trustees of The Hargreaves Foundation are pleased to announce that funding has been allocated to Blackburn & Darwen Youth Zone, a charity dedicated to empowering young people, believing that every youth deserves the chance to fulfil their potential and build a brighter future.

Blackburn is the 7^th most deprived local authority in England, with 67% of young people in the Borough suffering from some degree of mental health issue, and disengagement from school and learning is significantly higher than the national average. Blackburn & Darwen Youth Zone have a track record for re-engaging these young people through sports, and since 2012, have served as a hub for 6,000 young people aged 5-25, delivering daily free programmes including activities like art, music, sports, and sessions in mental health, youth justice, and employability.

The funding from The Hargreaves Foundation will support 15 young people aged 13-18, who are excluded or at risk of exclusion, through a 10-week cohort running four times a year. The programme will comprise a weekly three-hour session focusing on learning life skills through sports and will be divided into physical and educational activities. Physical activities will include, and are not limited to, badminton, cricket, and boxercise, while educational sessions will cover anxiety, nutrition, drug/alcohol use, psychological issues, and mental wellbeing.

Blackburn Youth Zone are well-equipped for supporting these children, with state-of-the-art physical facilities, staff who utilise trauma-informed practices, and strong partnership network supports which allows them to provide holistic support.