News / youth services
Mayor Godwin visits £12m ‘state-of-the-art’ youth centre
Helen Godwin, mayor of West of England, has recently visited the state-of-the-art youth centre 224 Youth Zone.
The £12m project, which began its construction in autumn 2024, has been completed.
Alongside the mayor, 224 Youth Zone welcomed some key employers, partners and civic leaders committed to improving opportunities for children and young people across Bristol.
Located in Hartcliffe, opposite Imperial Retail Park, the youth centre is strategically placed to serve Knowle West, Hartcliffe, Bedminster and the wider south Bristol area.
The £12m project, which began its construction in autumn 2024, has been completed
The idea for a purpose-built youth centre has been in discussion since 2019, and the completion of 224, which stands for Today, Tomorrow, Forever, marks a major milestone for youth services in the city.
The guided tour was attended by representatives of HSBC, Baileys of Bristol, GKN, Lloyds, Marks and Spencer’s and some founder patrons such as OVO Energy and Computershare.
“224 Youth Zone is a bespoke space designed by young people, for young people, with the aim of giving them something that truly feels like theirs, something that shows they’ve been invested in and where they can really develop their talents and skills,” said Helen Godwin, mayor of West of England
Speaking to Bristol24/7, Helen Godwin said: “224 Youth Zone is a bespoke space designed by young people, for young people, with the aim of giving them something that truly feels like theirs, something that shows they’ve been invested in and where they can really develop their talents and skills.
“Young people can come here to play sport with the Robins Foundation or the Bristol Bears Foundation, get creative in the arts and crafts space, spend time with friends in the beauty and wellbeing area, or even learn how to cook. It’s got everything, even a rock climbing wall.”
She also praised the role of local authorities, businesses and organisations in bringing the project together.
“This is a major investment from the council and partners across the region, including businesses, individuals and OnSide, a national organisation. But crucially, it will be run here in Bristol by local organisation Youth Moves,” she added.
The team at 224 Youth Zone are ready for the grand opening in June
Matt Justice, chief executive of 224 Youth Zone, led a tour of the 27,000 sq ft purpose-built facility, which spans two floors and is centred around a main social space with adjoining wings.
The ground floor includes a music room, meeting rooms, a dedicated quiet space for young people with neurodivergent needs and arts and crafts areas where creativity can flourish.
The facility recently opened its doors for a preview and a guided tour attended by local leaders
There are also multi-sport courts with markings for basketball, netball, cricket and badminton, with movable partitions allowing multiple activities to take place simultaneously.
A standout feature is the rock climbing wall, designed with input from young people themselves.
Upstairs, there is a wellbeing room for haircuts and interactions, alongside a kitchen where young people can learn to cook healthy meals.
Outside, the site includes an astro-turf football pitch and seating areas for use in warmer weather
There is also a boxing room and a gym equipped with treadmills, weight benches and exercise machines.
Outside, the site includes an astro-turf football pitch and seating areas for use in warmer weather.
Justice said: “I think you can see, when young people walk into the building, just how much it means to them.
“This is a space that’s been built for them. It’s not a community centre with a youth section bolted on, it’s a purpose-built facility with young people at the heart of everything.
“There’s nowhere else in south Bristol with facilities like this, and nowhere that brings together partnerships in quite the same way,” said Matt Justice, chief executive of 224 Youth Zone
“Because of that, they feel a real sense of ownership and belonging. It’s their space.
“There’s nowhere else in south Bristol with facilities like this, and nowhere that brings together partnerships in quite the same way, working with organisations to create the kinds of opportunities we can offer here.”
The youth zone boasts high-profile ambassadors, including rugby ace Ellis Genge, musician Geoff Barrow and filmmaker Paul Holbrook.
Justice added: “Ellis is one of our ambassadors. He’s a local lad who grew up in the area, and he’s really passionate about supporting young people here to raise their aspirations.
“He’s obviously very busy at the moment, but he’s made it clear he wants to come in, spend time with young people and be a visible presence in the community.”
The facility is equipped with a dedicated quiet space for young people with neurodivergent needs
The project has been delivered by contractors Galliford Try and developed by local youth charity Youth Moves in partnership with OnSide and Bristol City Council.
It is expected to support up to 5,000 young people aged eight to 19, and up to 25 for those with additional needs.
Membership will cost £5 per year, with entry priced at 50p per visit, but no young person will be turned away due to lack of funds.
There are also multi-sport courts with markings for basketball, netball, cricket and badminton, with movable partitions allowing multiple activities to take place simultaneously
Heather Frankham, chair of trustees at 224 Youth Zone and overall business category winner at the inaugural Bristol Legends awards, welcomed the centre’s impact.
She said: “I used to teach in south Bristol, and when you see young people’s faces as they come into this space, they’re almost in awe.
“What makes it even more special is that they helped design it. They shaped what 224 stands for, Today, Tomorrow, Forever, and created the logo and colour scheme themselves, thinking carefully about what those colours represent in the local area.
The 27,000 sq ft purpose-built facility spans two floors
“They wanted something inclusive, something that didn’t belong to one sports team or one neighbourhood, but to everyone. That thinking is embedded throughout the whole space. They even worked alongside designers on elements like the climbing wall.
“So for them, this isn’t a space that’s been done to them, it’s something they’ve helped create. And to have something so new and so impressive really shows that we’re investing in them. It’s not hand-me-downs, it’s not a basement youth club, it’s something built with them, for them.”
The kitchen space where young people can learn to cook healthy meals beyond the shop-bought easy snacks
The youth zone is already working with local organisations including Bristol Young Carers, Knowle West Media Centre and WECIL to help shape an inclusive and diverse programme.
It is expected that some of the local schools will offer to pay for their pupils to become members of the facility and make use of the once-in-a generation youth centre.
The boxing and martial arts practice room
A soft launch will take place in May with the participation of local schools, ahead of the grand opening on June 20.
There is also a boxing room and a gym equipped with treadmills, weight benches and exercise machines
Helen Godwin, mayor of West of England; Heather Frankham, chair of the truestees at 224 Youth Zone and Carmen Peacock, head of South West & South Wales corporate & institutional banking at Lloyds
A standout feature is the rock climbing wall, designed with input from young people themselves
The ground floor includes a music room, meeting rooms
Heather Frankham, chair of the trustees at 224 Youth Zone and overall business category winner at the inaugural Bristol Legends event, said the new facility is something built with and for young people
Located in Hartcliffe, opposite Imperial Retail Park, the youth centre is strategically placed to serve Knowle West, Hartcliffe, Bedminster and the wider south Bristol area
Young people are able to sign up here for an annual fee of £5 and anyone signing up before June will have exclusive access to our VIP soft launch opening phase. For more information, follow www.youthmoves224.org/become-a-member
All photos: Milan Perera
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