BLACKBURN Youth Zone’s chief executive, Peter Little, was working in Blackburn with Darwen Council’s policy department when it became clear to him that young people needed better facilities and safer places to meet.

Youngsters from various communities were mixing very little and issues surrounding cohesion were apparent.

Over five-years, Peter became the champion for the concept that became Blackburn Youth Zone.

Working with former Bolton Lads’ and Girls’ Club’s chief executive, Jerry Glover, and his charity OnSide Youth Zones, which had visions of opening five Zones in five years, Peter led the way in Blackburn.

Together with Blackburn with Darwen Council, which backed the idea from the start, businesses came on board as founder patrons. A £6m grant from the previous government’s MyPlace scheme was secured and building started in 2009.

In February 2012 Prince Edward officially opened the building. It was fully opened in June 2012.

By the end of its first summer, the Youth Zone had registered its 1,000th member and, while celebrating its first birthday earlier this year, the Zone announced it had more than 3,200 members. Nearly 20 per cent of the borough population, aged eight to 18, holds a membership, with almost equal numbers of boys and girls. Nearly 30 per cent of the members are from ethnic minorities.

The Youth Zone has also been a catalyst in securing further funding for the regeneration of Blackburn, such as the Cathedral Quarter development.

To get involved you can donate to the appeal directly, or hold a fundraising event.
To request a fundraising pack or to donate online, visit http://www.blackburnyz.org/youngleaders.
Alternatively, you can text BYZA01 and the amount you’d like to donate (either £2, £5, £10, or £20) to 70070.
For example, to donate £5, text BYZA01£5 to 70070.
You can also donate over the phone with a credit or debit card by calling 01254 292001.