Barking and Dagenham's Future Youth Zone - the £6.5 million facility which is set to open next Spring - has launched its volunteer recruitment drive.

As well as a 50-strong team of staff, the Youth Zone are on the lookout for 100 volunteers, with positions available, ranging from administrative support to working with the Young People's Development Group.

It's an opportunity for local people to give something back to the borough’s youngsters. 

The Youth Zone is being developed by the national charity OnSide, alongside the council, the Queen's Trust, the Jack Petchey Foundation and the Seroussi Foundation with Vistra Jersey and UBS Optimus Foundation.

There will be 20 activities for young people aged between eight and 19, and up to 25 for those with additional needs - every evening of the week which will include sports, art, music, drama, enterprise and employability opportunities, cookery and much more.

OnSide has developed a network of ten Youth Zones across the North West and Midlands and Barking and Dagenham's centre, which was named 'Future' by local young people, will be the first in London.

In every Youth Zone across OnSide's network, volunteers are absolutely vital to the success of the facilities.

"Future Youth Zone is going to be a fantastic addition to our borough, and we are hoping to get as many members of the community as possible involved in the project"

Councillor Saima Ashraf, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Community Leadership and Engagement, echoed these sentiments:

“Future Youth Zone is going to be a fantastic addition to our borough, and we are hoping to get as many members of the community as possible involved in the project,” she said. 

“I’d like to encourage residents who have a spare few hours each week to get in contact. It will be wonderful to see the people of Barking and Dagenham working with our borough’s youngsters, to make this ambitious scheme a success.”  

Future Youth Zone Volunteer Recruitment and Staff Training Manager Raymond Lau said: "With the New Year upon us, what better resolution than to give something back to help transform the lives of thousands of young people?

"Future Youth Zone will give them somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to and volunteers are the heartbeat of that offer. We need passionate local people who want to help build a brighter future in Barking and Dagenham. No experience is necessary and there are so many roles to take on, so we would love to hear from anybody who would like to be a part of something really special.”

For more information, contact raymond.lau@futureyouthzone.org or visit the Future Youth Zone website where there is also information about the latest full and part-time job vacancies.