OnSide announces new partnership with the ASOS Foundation

OnSide, the national youth charity behind a growing a network of state-of-the-art youth centres called Youth Zones, and the ASOS Foundation, which works to break down barriers for young people to achieve amazing things, have announced a major new five-year partnership. The collaboration represents a significant £1.5 million investment in the OnSide Youth Zone Network. 

Building on their investment in the creation of Base71, Barnsley Youth Zone (which will be Yorkshire’s first OnSide Youth Zone when it opens in 2026), the ASOS Foundation is now extending its support to benefit young people across the country. 

This new investment will initially support youth workers across OnSide’s four London Youth Zones, before expanding to a further six Youth Zones by 2028. The support will enable the roll-out of a pioneering youth worker career pathway programme, currently being piloted across the OnSide Network. This five-year development initiative is designed to support Junior Youth Workers with potential to progress from a Level 2 Youth Work qualification through to degree-level, while continuing their crucial paid roles in Youth Zones. 

This partnership comes at an important time for the youth sector, which continues to feel the impact of sustained funding cuts and increasing demand. Since 2010, local authority spending on youth services in England has fallen by over 70%, leading to the closure of hundreds of youth clubs and a significant reduction in youth work roles. At a time when many young people are navigating complex challenges, the need for safe, supportive spaces and trusted adults has never been more evident. 

Thanks to this partnership with the ASOS Foundation, 35,000 young people will benefit from vital youth work support that empowers them to overcome challenges, unlock their potential, and create brighter futures. Backing from the ASOS Foundation enables OnSide to offer a long-lasting, sustainable career path for more Youth Workers, which, if successful, could be scaled up to support even more inspiring Youth Workers in the years ahead. It will also generate insights that could benefit the wider youth sector. 

Jamie Masraff, Chief Executive of OnSide, said: 
“We are really pleased that the ASOS Foundation is extending its partnership with us and bringing much-needed investment into the youth sector. Youth workers are the backbone of our Youth Zones, providing guidance, support and inspiration to thousands of young people every year. This partnership will enable us to further invest in their development, creating clearer career pathways and ensuring they have the tools and training to make an even greater impact on young people in their communities.” 

José Antonio Ramos, ASOS Foundation Trustee and ASOS CEO said: 
“Our pioneering partnership with OnSide cuts to the heart of the ASOS Foundation’s mission of breaking down barriers for young people to achieve amazing things. The youth worker career pathway will not only deliver long-term, sustainable change for those directly involved, but also contribute to the wider success of youth work right across the country – helping drive long-term community impact. We’re proud to be extending our partnership with OnSide and are also looking forward to the launch of Yorkshire’s first OnSide Youth Zone, Base71, in Barnsley in the months ahead.”

The new partnership reflects a shared commitment to creating opportunities for young people and investing in the future of youth work in the UK. By supporting and developing the workforce behind youth provision, the initiative aims to deliver a lasting, positive impact.