Manchester Youth Zone

What Manchester Youth Zone does

Manchester Youth Zone is an independent registered charity (Charity number: 1134580) founded in 2012, operating a single physical youth centre at 931 Rochdale Road, Harpurhey, North Manchester, as part of the OnSide Youth Zone network. The organization delivers free youth services to over 4,000 young people annually aged 8-19 (up to 25 with additional needs or disabilities), providing access to 16+ specialized facilities including a boxing suite, fitness suite, girls-only gym, sports hall with climbing wall, dance studio, 3G outdoor pitch, maker zone (laser cutting, 3D printing, VR), podcast room, music room, sensory room, training kitchen, and beauty space. The centre operates 7 days a week, delivering universal youth sessions alongside targeted programs such as the Health Impact Programme, free hot meals during every session, and free holiday clubs during school breaks. Outreach is extended through detached youth work to reach young people not visiting the centre, and 93% of members report the Youth Zone has a positive impact on their lives.

The service model is facility-based rather than digital — no proprietary technology, no mobile app, no API, and no disclosed AI capabilities are present in the organization. Technology is limited to standard office software, a Webflow CMS for the website, and Salesforce for member data management. Distribution is exclusively through the single physical site, supplemented by referral pathways from schools, social workers, safeguarding teams, and children's services professionals. Reach is concentrated in North Manchester, with 94% of members living in the UK's most deprived areas, 64% from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, and 16% with a disability or additional need.

Manchester Youth Zone is funded entirely through charitable income — individual donations (via JustGiving, PayPal, cheque), corporate patronage from nine named partners (Bruntwood, JD Foundation, Deloitte, SEFE Energy, Calisen Impact, Together Money, Car Finance 247, Burton Copeland, Money Plus Group, ANS Group), grants administered via a Bid Writer, fundraising events (Great Manchester Run, Tour de Manc, Christmas Big Give), and in-kind support. All services for young people are provided free of charge with no pricing model. The organization is governed by trustees including Chair Jo Jolliffe and operated day-to-day by Interim CEO Gavin (appointed 2025) with a senior leadership team covering Centre Operations, HR, Finance, Safeguarding & Partnerships, and Director of Operations. No revenue figures are disclosed publicly.

Name

Manchester Youth Zone

Legal name

Manchester Youth Zone

Website

https://manchesteryz.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Manchester Youth Zone is a UK-registered charity operating a free youth centre in North Manchester, providing sports, arts, music, mentoring, and meals to over 4,000 young people aged 8-19 (up to 25 with additional needs) annually, funded through corporate partnerships, donations, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), Child and Youth Services (62411), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Multi-Sport Camps (General Athletics, Summer Camps) (MPAKAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO)

Keywords

• Youth development services
• Youth centre operations
• Community youth programmes
• Youth work support
• Charitable youth services

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual supporters donate money through JustGiving, PayPal, or cheque. Donations are used to fund youth activities, meals, and programs. Gift Aid may be claimed on eligible donations.
2. Corporate Partnerships & Patronage: Corporate partners (patrons) provide financial support, resources, expertise, and volunteering. Partners include ANS Group, Bruntwood, Calisen Impact, Car Finance 247, Burton Copeland, Together Loans & Money, Money Plus Group, JD Foundation, and Sefe Energy.
3. Fundraising Events: The organization runs fundraising events including Great Manchester Run, Tour de Manc, Christmas Big Give, and charity networking events where participants raise money through sponsorship.
4. Grants: Funding from external grantmakers supports specific programs and initiatives. The organization completes funding applications through a Bid Writer.
5. In-Kind Support: Corporate patrons provide resources, venue use, and expertise rather than direct cash donations, reducing operational costs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Manchester Youth Zone operates a free, physical youth centre facility in Harpurhey, North Manchester, delivering recreational, educational, and emotional support services to young people aged 8–19 (up to 25 with additional needs). Core services include youth work sessions (universal and targeted), free holiday clubs, member events, a weekly activity timetable organised by age groups, and the Health Impact Programme for at-risk youth. Members access over 25 free activities across dedicated spaces including boxing, fitness, girls-only gym, dance, music, maker zone, podcast room, sensory room, sports hall with climbing wall, training kitchen, 3G pitch, and beauty space, with free hot meals provided during every session.

Product overview

Manchester Youth Zone is a charitable youth services organization operating as a single, unified service rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offering consists of a comprehensive youth centre providing recreational, educational, and emotional support services through dedicated facilities. The organization's facilities include specialized spaces such as Boxing Suite, Fitness Suite, Girls Only Gym, Game Zone, Dance Studio, Rec Area, Outdoor Rec Area, 3G Pitch, Maker Zone, Podcast Room, Music Room, Sensory Room, Training Kitchen, Sports Hall, Rock Climbing Wall, and Girls Beauty Space. Service delivery is organized through youth work sessions (universal and targeted), holiday club programs, member events, and a weekly activity timetable structured by age groups. The Health Impact Programme provides specialized mentoring for young people requiring additional support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MYZ Holiday Club
• Health Impact Programme
• Youth Work Sessions
• Member Events
• Weekly Activity Timetable

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% of young people say attending Youth Zone has a positive impact on their lives
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• BruntwoodcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 201213-year partnership supporting the youth zone through building programs, active board involvement, and fundraising. Bruntwood staff participate in Cares Days and ongoing initiatives. Partnership rooted in shared commitment to healthy, vibrant communities.
• DeloittecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThree-year partnership as part of 5 million Futures social impact strategy. Employees volunteer 3.5 hours per month through 5 Million Futures programme. Fundraisers, impact volunteering days, and in-person training sessions.
• JD FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner6+ year partnership delivering high-impact programmes to hundreds of MYZ members. Committed to further 3-year partnership with unrestricted funding and program development for East Manchester youth.
• SEFE EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership began in 2023 following employee vote. Raised over £20,000 through Great Manchester 10K, Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, and other events. Funds support daily hot meals, facilities, and centre refurbishment.
• Together Loans & MoneycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported MYZ since its inception in 2012. Partnership aligned with company's commitment to ambition, opportunity and support. Witnessed positive impact firsthand.
• Car Finance 247supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term supporter with '247 Match Week' donation matching, make a difference days, and Bee Fit 247 initiative organizing fitness and wellbeing sessions for young people.
• Burton CopelandsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner40-year Manchester legal firm supporting the youth zone to give back to the city. Partnership supports young people who may face disadvantage or be from deprived areas.
• Money Plus GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommitted to supporting Manchester community with continued support of MYZ. Champions the committed and inspiring team.
• ANS GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate patron providing funds, resources and expertise to support the youth zone's cause.
• Manchester City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport instrumental in delivering ongoing activities for young people across many spheres including physical activity. Partnered on inclusive gym launch.
• M11 Track (Jenny Meadows, Trevor Painter)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOlympic coach Jenny Meadows (World Championship medallist, Olympic coach for Keeley Hodgkinson) and Trevor Painter opened new inclusive gym spaces. M11 Track athletes participated in launch event.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• StreetGames: UK charity using sport to improve life chances for young people in disadvantaged communities. Comparable as a sport-led youth engagement charity combining facility access, coaching, and youth work, with similar referral partnerships from schools and social services.
• National Citizen Service (NCS): Government-backed youth development programme delivering residential and community-based programmes for 16-17 year-olds across the UK. Comparable as a structured, outcome-focused youth development offering combining activity, life skills, and civic engagement, with similar corporate and local-authority partnerships.
• Catch22: UK social business delivering services for vulnerable young people including education, employability, and youth justice programmes. Comparable in terms of targeted work with at-risk youth, multi-stakeholder commissioning model, and operating across multiple UK regions with a mix of paid staff and volunteers.
• St Basils: UK youth homelessness charity working with 16-25 year-olds across the Midlands, providing accommodation, supported housing, and prevention services. Directly comparable in terms of vulnerable-young-person safeguarding model, statutory partnerships, and corporate patron fundraising structure.
• The Prince's Trust: Major UK charity supporting young people aged 11-30 through personal development, training, and wellbeing programmes. Comparable as a direct delivery youth services charity that combines facility-based activity with mentoring and employment pathways, with a similar national corporate partnership model.
• Other OnSide Youth Zones (e.g., Bolton Lads and Girls Club, Wigan Youth Zone, Oldham Youth Zone, Preston Youth Zone): Sister organisations within the OnSide network that operate the same membership-based youth centre model serving 8-19 year-olds with sports, arts, music, and youth work. They share the operating blueprint, referral pathways, and corporate fundraising approach, making them the closest direct comparables.

Regional players

• Centrepoint: UK charity supporting homeless young people aged 16-25 with housing, learning, and wellbeing services. Comparable in terms of vulnerable-young-person target group, corporate patron model, and outcome measurement, though operating primarily in London rather than directly in North Manchester.
• Manchester United Foundation: Manchester-based charitable arm of Manchester United Football Club delivering sports participation, education, and employability programmes for young people across Greater Manchester. Comparable as a sports-led youth engagement operation in the same geography, with similar school and corporate referral pipelines.
• Manchester City Foundation (City in the Community): Charitable arm of Manchester City delivering sport, education, and health programmes for young people in Greater Manchester. Comparable as a same-geography, sports-anchored youth charity with similar school partnership model and SEND-inclusive programming.

Broad incumbents

• UK Youth: National umbrella organisation supporting a network of youth organisations across the UK. Comparable as a broader charity operating in the same youth services space, providing training, advocacy, and grant funding — overlapping with MYZ's mission but operating at sector-support level rather than direct delivery.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/manchesteryz
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@manchesteryouthzone
• Facebookfacebook.com/share/12LcJFPVtqu/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/manchesteryouthzone
• Instagraminstagram.com/manchesteryouthzone

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Manchester Youth Zone