New WEST Youth Zone celebrates successful launch
National Youth Charity OnSide is celebrating reaching 1500 members for its latest Youth Zone, “WEST“, which officially opened its doors in White City Innovation District in April 2024.
WEST – which stands for “Where Everyone Sticks Together” – is a new independent local charity offering a wide range of purpose-built facilities for young people, including a sports hall, fitness suite, rooftop football pitch, indoor climbing wall, teaching kitchen, performing arts studio plus an on-site café, which serves hot, nutritious meals costing no more than £1. WEST provides enterprise and employability workshops and is open seven days a week to young people aged eight to 19 (or up to 25 for those with additional needs), providing young people with access to a team of dedicated, trained youth workers. WEST Youth Zone is the newest addition to the OnSide national youth centre network of 15 sites, whose successful model focuses on empowering young people to develop the skills and confidence to lead positive, fulfilling lives through access to state-of-the-art spaces and life-changing youth work – delivered in areas of the UK where the services are most needed.
WEST HOSTS ROYAL VISIT
On Thursday 14th March 2024, WEST was delighted to host His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, who paid a special visit to the brand-new Youth Zone facilities in White City. During his visit, The Prince spoke with pupils from Ark White City Primary Academy and WEST’s Young People’s Development Group – who were involved in shaping the design and facilities in the new centre – and heard from young people living locally about why WEST offers transformative opportunities. His Royal Highness toured the Youth Zone, four-court indoor sports hall and teaching kitchen before celebrating his visit with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque.
WEST Youth Zone is part of an innovative £150 million education hub, EdCity, which is being developed in partnership by London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and education charity Ark, and which will include a new school, nursery, adult education centre and affordable housing.
What’s IN WEST YOUTH ZONE?
- 4-court indoor sports hall
- Indoor climbing wall
- Fitness Suite with state-of-the-art gym equipment
- Boxing and martial arts room
- Performing arts studio
- Music suite with instruments and recording equipment
- Large open plan recreation area
- Project rooms, including arts, crafts and fashion
- Film and multi-media facilities
- Teaching/mentoring kitchen
- Café serving hot nutritious meals costing no more than £1
- Multi-use games area/kick pitch with flood lights
- Breakout room to include activities such as employability workshops, general and gender specific health/youth issue topics/projects and youth participation.
Commenting on the Royal visit, the leader of Hammersmith & Fulham Council Stephen Cowan said: “Our £150m investment in these amazing state-of-the-art youth and educational facilities is indicative of our most fundamental belief that every young person in our Borough should have the best possible start in life. We chose the charity OnSide as our partner in our EdCity project and gifted them the land because they have an excellent record and share our mission to change and improve young people’s lives.
“HRH Prince William is genuinely interested in this amazing project and was keen to understand the work we’re doing to link the opportunities of White City Innovation District to the life chances of local young people.”
WEST CEO Elanor Gunn added: “We were delighted to welcome His Royal Highness to WEST Youth Zone to show him our fantastic new building and introduce him to our incredible and passionate staff team and young people. We are so grateful to our supporters for making this a reality.”
VOLUNTEER WITH WEST YOUTH ZONE
WEST Youth Zone is looking for dedicated volunteers with a range of skills to help deliver a world-class service to West London’s young people. For more information and to get involved, visit the WEST Youth Zone website.
