We need your financial support to make a real difference to the lives of young people throughout the country. We aim to give all young people somewhere safe and inspiring to go in their leisure time. Youth Zones are having a transformational impact on young people now and will continue to do so for future generations.
Each and every Youth Zone presents its own set of unique and intricate funding challenges.
A model of local ownership is a key success factor in ensuring financial sustainability of each Youth Zone into the future.
We have more than 530 Patrons, comprising both private sector companies and individuals, providing revenue funding, and have raised over £100 million capital and revenue investment since our inception. This unique model has proven its value, with an impact study by economic, social and regeneration specialists, Amion Consulting, calculating that Youth Zones generate significantly more benefits than they cost to deliver, based on clear measurable, hard outcomes. On average, Youth Zones bring £2.03 of social benefits for every £1 spent on operating costs, or £6.66 for every £1 of local authority contributions.
OnSide is extremely grateful to our wonderful supporters, without whom our Youth Zones simply would not be in existence.
Take a look at some of our existing supporters, some of which have been with us from the start and continue to see the benefits from supporting a national young person’s charity with a truly local focus.
The cost of building and fitting out a Youth Zone is in the order of £8.7million. 50% is provided by the Council, with the site provided by the local authority and the remainder made up of grants, trusts funding and local philanthropic giving.
The OnSide Foundation invests in the new OnSide Youth Zones by flowing capital grants raised by OnSide to each project.
The cross-sector funding model is unique and sustainable. The annual running costs for a start-up Youth Zone are £1.3million; £400k met by local authority support and £900k by the local private sector. OnSide works with the local team to raise the first three years of private sector funding ahead of opening.
Whether as an individual or an organisation we want to hear from you. It takes around £8.7million to open a new Youth Zone in the UK and as the need for these centres of the community grows so does our focus on securing new funding and new supporters.
How to get OnSide
Please contact us to discuss how you can get involved.
We’d also love to show you around a local Youth Zone, allowing you to see for yourself the impact that these centres make can be life-changing.