The City’s key decision makers came together yesterday for an event to mark the opening of The Factory Youth Zone, a new £5 million facility for young people in Manchester.
Over 100 people attended The Factory’s Youth Debate entitled ‘Get Communities Talking’, with prestigious panel guest Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, to debate issues affecting young people.
Hosted by Paul Lockitt, News Editor at Key 103, the event was attended by senior representatives from Manchester’s public and private sectors. Other special guests on the panel included; Mike Green, City in the Community, Rose Marley, Manager at The Sharpe Project, Mark Rainey, Head of Regeneration at Manchester City Council, Ruth Ibegbuna, Founder of RECLAIM and Michael Salmon, Children’s Services at Manchester City Council.
In partnership with The Factory Youth Zone groups from local schools and collages led the debate, providing an opportunity for Manchester’s youth community to have a voice with key decision makers in the City.
Check out some of the photos from the day:
Sir Richard Leese, Leader of the Council, said: “The opening of the Factory Youth Zone, in this state of the art, iconic building, ensures there is accessible, high quality and targeted activities for young people in Manchester. The new facility will be a focal point providing them with a wide range of recreational and educational opportunities seven days a week. Young people represent the future of the city and investing in their future by providing a safe and secure environment with trained youth workers to guide them will pay dividends in the long run.”
Johannah Aynsley, Chief Executive of The Factory said: “This building and the staff in The Factory Youth Zone represent a new lifestyle choice for Manchester’s young people – a place to have life changing opportunities within their grasp, a place to feel safe, make new friends and gain new skills.
“This is now another addition to the fantastic cultural and educational offer that is slowly taking root in North Manchester and I am proud to be the newest link in the chain, which is exposing young people to all Manchester has to offer culturally, economically, educationally and socially!”
