On Saturday 20 July 2024, over 450 young people, family members and supporters joined Carlisle Youth Zone (CYZ) to celebrate turning 13 with a free Community Open Day.

The fun-packed day, organised by CYZ’s Youth Planning Committee, allowed attendees to experience some of the activities and opportunities which are available to Youth Zone members (aged 7 – 18yrs) across their 6 night a week programme, including sports, art, climbing, craft, baking, gym, conservation, wellness, performance and music. And it wouldn’t be a birthday celebration without a cake! The sensational centrepiece, made by Love Treats and sponsored by Carlisle Brass, was ceremonially cut by young people alongside the Mayor of Carlisle, Cllr Chris Southward.

Chief Executive of CYZ, Caroline Taylor-Beswick said, “It was fantastic to welcome so many of our community to CYZ to help us mark this significant milestone, and what an achievement for our Youth Planning Committee who had prepared the invitations, made decorations and shaped the whole event. I know from listening to young people and from our broad range of supporters just how much the Youth Zone means to our city, and its integral role in bringing people together to convey our value of and belief in Carlisle’s children and young people.

And reaching our 13th birthday really is a collective achievement. The Youth Zones sustained and reliable presence for young people in Carlisle, against a national backdrop of a 70% decline in youth services, has only been possible thanks to the vision and backing of many businesses, individuals and grant making trusts who are willing to support us to provide young people somewhere safe to go, with something positive to do, and with trusted people to talk to.

As we look ahead to our teenage years, we are determined to strengthening these networks and partnerships so that together we can reach even more young people, building on our strong foundations for quality youth work and becoming a hub for an even broader range of youth opportunities, and an even greater platform for Youth Voice and participation”

CYZ opened in 2011 and was driven by local business leaders who secured substantial funding from the Government’s My Place Fund to build the £5m purpose-built youth facility. CYZ was the first of a now growing network of OnSide supported Youth Zones, open 6 days a week until 8.30/9pm where for just 50p per visit, young people can access a safe and fun place to discover their passions and their purpose.

Also attending the celebration was Carlisle new MP, Julie Minns, who said, “The partnership between youth provision and so many local businesses is amazing. It is opening up opportunities for young people and inspiring them to think about the sort of careers that they might want to go into and it means that our businesses are plugged into what the next generation might want from our city as well”