Record breaking summer as more than 7,800 visit Youth Zone

For parents and guardians, the summer holidays can bring a difficult juggling act – balancing work, childcare and the rising cost of keeping children safe, active and entertained. With holiday childcare costing families £850 to £950 per child, the financial pressure can be significant. That’s why accessible holiday provision is so important.

For many families, holiday clubs are not a luxury; they provide a safe place for children and young people to go, opportunities to have fun, build friendships and try new activities, as well as access to nutritious food – while giving parents much needed peace of mind.

That’s where organisations like Blackburn & Darwen Youth Zone play a vital role. This summer, the charity celebrated a record breaking summer programme, welcoming thousands of young people through its doors across Blackburn and Darwen.

Over the summer, Youth Zone welcomed more than 7,400 visits across its two sites, with its busiest week seeing more than 2,700 visits. The figures highlight the huge demand for affordable, safe and positive activities for young people across the borough. Alongside the activities, the team served an incredible 4,886 free meals, helping ensure young people had access to nutritious food throughout the summer break.

Mohammed T Sidat, CEO of charity IMO, said: “It’s been fantastic to work alongside Blackburn & Darwen Youth Zone and see first hand the impact its summer programme has had on young people across the borough.

"The scale of engagement this summer has been incredible, but behind every number is a young person who has had the opportunity to try something new, make friends, build confidence and enjoy a positive experience during the school holidays.

"As a delivery partner, we are proud to play our part alongside the Youth Zone team. Its commitment to making sure young people have access to a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment is clear to see, and it’s been brilliant to be part of a programme that has reached so many young people and families."

Leon Crosby, CEO of Blackburn & Darwen Youth Zone, said: “We are incredibly proud of what our teams have achieved this summer. More than 7,400 visits, and serving 4,900 free meals - but behind every one of those numbers is a young person – someone making friends, trying something new, building confidence or simply having somewhere safe to belong. That is what makes this work so important.

"To continue providing these opportunities, we need to raise £2.3 million every year to keep the Youth Zone running. Around half of this comes from local businesses, whose support is absolutely vital to our future. We are incredibly grateful to the businesses and supporters who invest in young people across Blackburn and Darwen and help us continue changing lives."