The biggest youth centre project in Bristol’s history got underway on Thursday, as it was announced Bristol Sport would join the South Bristol Youth Zone as one of its key partners.
At the ‘groundbreaking’ ceremony to mark the start of work on 224 – the name for the Youth Zone – it was announced three more partners would join the project and get involved in how it is run, including the Ashton Gate-based Bristol Sport, with its various foundations connected to Bristol City and Bristol Bears.
The 224 Youth Zone will ultimately cost £11m and should be opening in 2026 at a location next to the Hartcliffe Way roundabout between Knowle, Hartcliffe, Bishopsworth and Hengrove that was specifically picked with the aim of bringing together young people from across South Bristol.
The Youth Zone will have a wide range of activities and facilities, from sport to music, gaming to drama, arts to employability training. Bristol Bears and England rugby star Ellis Genge is an ambassador, as is Portishead and Beak musician Geoff Barrow and award-winning Hartcliffe film-maker Paul Holbrook.
“I grew up about 400m away and, as a local lad, this organisation means the world to me,” said Ellis Genge. “I genuinely don’t think people understand the challenges of being a youngster from Knowle. I had to travel over an hour every single week to get to training at Westbury for Bristol and it was hard. Having a space like this will provide youngsters with opportunity and, who knows, hopefully we find a few more diamonds in the West, and see them playing for Bristol in the future,” he added.
Paul Holbrook said it was important that the 224 Youth Zone will be for all the youngsters across South Bristol. “It’s going to be as much for the young people of Hartcliffe and Withywood as it is for the young people of Knowle and Bedminster,” he said.
Geoff Barrow said he hoped the music facilities there will provide the kind of spark for young people that he had growing up in Portishead. “Without the local youth club to rehearse at and DJ, things would have been very different in my musical life so I understand how vital these new facilities – alongside great youth work – will be to local kids in helping them to engage with their creative talent,” he said.
The three new partner organisations for the project are Bristol Young Carers, WECIL and the Bristol Sport Group. Charities like the Robins Foundation are already heavily involved in youth work in areas like Knowle and Hartcliffe, and this will be a continuation and expansion of that.
“We are delighted to partner with 224 and look forward to helping this venue become a key hub in the community,” said Gavin Marshall, the CEO of Bristol Sport Group. “All children should have the opportunity to enjoy sport in a safe and welcoming environment and we look forward to seeing this Youth Zone develop into a successful space for youngsters to enjoy and explore their sporting potential,” he added.
The Youth Zone has been controversial, with concerns that the funding from Bristol City Council is going to be at the expense of funding for other smaller youth work organisations and projects in South Bristol and around the city. The project was given the go-ahead by former Labour Mayor Marvin Rees and signed off by the new Green Party-led council administration.
Local councillor Rob Logan (Labour, Filwood) said he hoped everyone across South Bristol would get involved. “The new 224 Youth Zone is a vote of confidence in the future, and in Bristol’s amazing young people,” he said. “It will be a destination of choice for young people from across South Bristol and will be something the whole community is engaged with and can be proud of,” he added.
The name 224 stands for today, tomorrow, forever, and was chosen following a consultation led by young people from Youth Moves, the youth organisation which will run the centre when it’s open. Lily Woston and Ruby Miles from that group said: “We really want this Youth Zone because Youth Moves is not only a big part of our lives but so many other young peoples’ too. Having this Youth Zone means thousands more young people will be able to access a variety of opportunities and support from youth workers that we have received from being at Youth Moves,” they added.
Bristol Live WhatsApp Breaking News and Top Stories
Join Bristol Live’s WhatsApp community for top stories and breaking news sent directly to your phone
Bristol Live is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our community.
Through the app, we’ll send the latest breaking news, top stories, exclusives and much more straight to your phone.
To join our community you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link and select ‘Join Community’.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Bristol Live team.
We also treat community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out at any time you like.
To leave our community, click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘Exit group’.
If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.