March - April 2024 Bi-Monthly News

Pages2,3,&4 OurPeople Page9 OurPatrons

Pages5&6 OurPlace

Pages10&11 OurPartners

Our Young People

Women’s Internatio Celebrating Wome Through Art

InMarch,wecelebratedInternational Women'sDaywithaspecialactivity thatinvolvedouryoungpeople.The activityaimedtoinspireandempower ouryoungpeoplebyencouraging themtofocusonwomenwhoinspire them.

Theywereaskedtocreatedrawingsof thewomentheyadmireandshare theirstories.Theresultwastruly amazing,aswereceivedalotof wonderfuldrawingsthatshowcased thecreativityandtalentofouryoung people.��

Darwen Juniors Shine on Red Nose Day with Creative Fundraising Efforts

DarwenJuniorsShineonRedNoseDaywith CreativeFundraisingEfforts.

AtourDarwensite,ouryoungpeopleputinan incredibleeffortonRedNoseDaytosupportthe cause Theyorganisedavarietyofactivities, includingalemonadestand,toraiseawareness abouttheimportanceoftheday.

Theirhardworkanddedicationpaidoff,andwe areproudoftheircontributiontothecauseand wecan'tthankthemenoughfortheireffortsin makingapositiveimpactontheworld Welook forwardtoseeingwhattheywillachieveinthe future!

‘The Next Level - Basketball Game

DuringMarch,ourtalentedteamofBasketballersfromthe'NextLevel'programmebrought homethewinagainstMahdloYouthZoneinafriendlygameofBasketball.Theyoung peopleonbothteamsdemonstratedtheirskillsandteamwork,spreadingpositivevibesall around.

NextLevelwasestablishedinJune2023andsetouttoenableyoungpeopletolive healthier,moreprosperouslivesthroughthepowerofsportsandphysicalactivity, encouragingthemtostrivefortheir'NextLevel'.We’realreadylookingforwardtothenext game! ����

British Science Week 2024

Ouryoungpeoplehavebeenengagingin fascinatingexperimentstomarktheoccasionof BritishScienceWeekinMarch Wewereeven fortunateenoughtohaveaspecialvisitfrom UCLANUniversity,whojoinedoursessionand conductedanamazingscienceworkshop featuringactivitiessuchasbuildingpolydron palaces,exploringscientificskeletons,takingon engineeringeggchallenges,anddivingintoslimy scienceexperiments

Takealookattheincrediblevolcaniceruptions theyhavesuccessfullycreated!

SEND Group Cook Up With BWD Food Alliance

OurSENDgroup,inpartnershipwithIMOCharity,recentlyhostedaspecialvisitfrom Sarah,arepresentativefromtheBlackburnwithDarwenFoodAlliance.

Sarah'svisitwaspartofaCookUpsession,duringwhichouryoungparticipantshad theopportunitytoengageinhands-oncookingactivities.Theythoroughlyenjoyed creatingtheirownmouthwateringhomemadepizzas,flavorfulleekandpotatosoup, andcreamymashedpotatoes.

Thesessionwasafantasticexperienceforeveryoneinvolved,andweareimmensely thankfultoBlackburnwithDarwenFoodAllianceformakingitpossible.Itwasa wonderfulopportunityforouryoungpeopletolearnnewcookingskillsandhavefun intheprocess.

Heartfelt tributes for Rt Hon Jack Straw's contributions to Blackburn and Darwen Youth Zone at Blackburn Rovers Football Club on Wednesday 27th March.

RtHonJackStrawwashonouredandcelebratedforhiscommitmentandcontribution totheBlackburnandDarwenYouthZoneatapacked-outeventhostedbythecharityat BlackburnRoverson27March.

Thefocalpointofthe“SupperClub,”hostedbylong-termBlackburnandDarwenYouth ZoneTrustee,WayneWild,whotookoverasChairofTrusteesfromMrStrawinDecember 2023.HavingservedasChairsince2015,MrStrawwillcontinuetosupportthecharity anditsmembersasaTrustee

RtHonJackStrawdescribedhistimeasChairofTrusteesfortheBlackburnandDarwen YouthZoneas“fantasticallyinterestingandrewarding.”HethankedthePatronsfor coming,andtheirongoingsupportforthecharity,“Becausewithoutyoursupport,we couldn’tdowhatwearenowdoing.”

AMRC North West

AMRCNorthWestJoinsPrestigiousPatron NetworkofBlackburn&DarwenYouthZone

"WearethrilledtojointhePatronnetworkof Blackburn&DarwenYouthZone,"said ProfessorMelissaConlonCommercialDirector atAMRCNorthWest."Ourcollaborationwith otheresteemedpatronsexemplifiesour sharedcommitmenttoinvestinginthefuture ofLancashire'syoungpeople."

IN4GroupJoinsBlackburn&DarwenYouthZone asSilverPatron,StrengtheningCommitmentto EducationalEnrichmentandEconomic Empowerment

Blackburn-bornMoIsap,CEOofIN4Group, emphasisedtheimportanceofeducationin drivingeconomicempowermentsaid: “I'mverybiased,butIdobelieveBlackburnhas themostdiverseandincrediblytalentedyoung people.OurinvestmentintoBlackburn&Darwen YouthZoneistofurtherensureallyoungpeople fromacrossourcommunitiescanaccessthe fantasticenvironmentandprogrammes available."

THANK YOU

WewouldliketosayamassiveTHANKYOUtoallour wonderfulpatrons&supporterswhogenerously donatedEastereggstoBlackburn&DarwenYouth ZonethisEaster.

Yoursupportlitupthefacesofouryoungpeople

Easter HOliday club

SUEZUKandStacifortheirincrediblesupportduringourEaster HolidayClub SUEZUKdeliveredengagingworkshopsatbothour DarwenandBlackburnsites,dedicatingtheirdaytorecyclingwith ouryoungparticipants.Together,theytransformedcardboardinto creativetrainsandrobotcostumes,creatingunforgettable experiencesforouryoungpeople.Additionally,abigthankyouto StacifortheirinvaluablegeneralvolunteeringatourBlackburnsite. Ouryoungpeoplehadablastthankstoyourefforts!

WanttojoinBlackburn&DarwenYouthZone’scorporatevolunteeringinitiativeandshapethefutureandempowerthe

Blackburn & Darwen Youth Zone Celebrates Success of Eid Family Fun Day

Theeventshowcasedthededicationofyouthworkers,volunteers,andcommunity memberswhojoinedforcestoensureitssuccess.TheEidfamilyfundayfeatureddiverse activities,includingfacepainting,football,hennaart,inflatables,streetfood,andan excitingplayarea

Blackburn&YouthZoneisacharitydedicatedtoyoungpeople,providingover60hoursof serviceswhenschoolsareclosed.Themembershipservicesnowbenefit5,000young people,with50%ofthemembershipcomingfromtheSouthAsianCommunityand50% fromtheWhiteBritishCommunity.Theprovisiontakesplaceatastate-of-the-artcentrein BlackburnandtheirsatellitesiteinDarwen,withadedicatedSENDandemployability serviceopentoyoungadultsuptotheageof25

LeonCrosby,OperationsDirectoratBlackburn&DarwenYouthZone,remarked, “Socialintegrationliesattheheartofeverythingwedo;bybringingyoungpeopletogether, regardlessofbackgroundorcircumstance,westrivetocreateamoreinclusiveand interconnectedcommunity.Blackburn&DarwenYouthZonecontinuestocatalysepositive changeandunitywithintheBlackburn&Darwencommunity TheesteemedpresenceofMayorParwaizAkhtarandtheMayoressofBlackburnaddedto thefestivities.

MayorAkhtarcommendedtheBlackburn&DarwenYouthZoneYouthZone’seffortsin nurturingthecommunity’syoungpeople.

“Amazingprojectslikethishelpbuildyoungpeopleinthecommunity,”MayorAkhtar emphasised.

ThesuccessoftheEidfamilyfundayhighlightshowBlackburn&DarwenYouthZone’sis supportiveandhasaninclusiveenvironmentforyoungpeopleempoweringthemtothrive.

#NextLevelSports

Girls Football team get to be ball girls for the day!

OurJuniorGirls'footballteam hadanunforgettableexperience recently!Theyweregiventhe amazingopportunitytowalkout ontothepitchwiththeRovers Women'sFootballteamand serveasballgirlsduringthe game.

Itwasanabsolutedreamcome trueforthegirlsandafantastic experienceforthemtobeso closetotheirrolemodels The excitementandjoyfromthis experiencewillsurelyfueltheir passionforthesportevenmore.

Successful First SE Community Triumph

Wearethrilledtosharethe successofourfirst-everSEND FamilyDay,organisedin collaborationwithIMO, BlackburnYouthZone,andYPS Theeventwelcomed144 attendeesandwastailored specificallyforSENDfamilies. Parentsandcarerspraisedthe peacefulatmosphere, enablingtheirchildrentofully enjoytheday'sactivities withoutstress

Thecarefulplanningand strongpartnershipsensured thatthedaywasnotonly entertainingbutalsofostered aprofoundsenseof communityandinclusion This eventmarkedasignificant stepforwardinour commitmenttosupporting SENDfamilies,creatingajoyful andinclusiveenvironmentfor everyoneinvolved Thankyou toallwhomadethisday unforgettable!

1Voice Interview With Blackburn & Darwen Youth Zone’s CEO

TheCEOofBlackburn&Darwen YouthZone,HannahAllen,was recentlyfeaturedina comprehensive3-page interviewinthelatesteditionof 1VMagazine.

Youcanfindthecomplete interviewbyvisitingtheonline versionofthemagazineclicking thebuttonbelow

And it begins...

Finally,justoverayearsincewefirstfoundoutweweresuccessfulwithourYIFbid,the planningisover,andconstructionhascommencedtotransformtheFusebox(aderelict partofourbuilding)intoastate-of-the-artWorldofWorkandDigitalCreationspace.

Weareincrediblyexcitedabouttheopportunitiesthiswilloffertotheyoungpeopleof BlackburnwithDarwen,andwecan'twaituntilitisfullyopeninJanuary2025

Work set to start on doubling the size of Darwen Youth Centre

Thedoorsaresettotemporarilycloseon DarwenYouthCentretoallowfora£3.3m transformation.

£750,000 boost revealed for Blackburn’s Corporation Park

CorporationParkissettobenefitfrom £750,000ofnewfundingsuccessfully securedbyBlackburnwithDarwen Council READMOREHERE

New planning application to repair the roof of Blackburn’s King George’s Hall

Anewplanningapplicationhasbeen submittedtorepairtheroofofthehistoric KingGeorge’sHall.

Extended opening hours announced for Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery as it celebrates 150-year anniversary

BlackburnMuseumandArtGalleryhas announcednewopeninghoursfromApril.

Historic civic memorabilia is heading home to Darwen

Anornamentalcasket,aceremonialmace andanhistorictrophyarereturningto Darwenandwerepresentedinacivic ceremonybytheMayorofBlackburn,Cllr ParwaizAhktar.