Young people across South Leeds are being given a new place to get active, meet new people and try something new, with the launch of two exciting ACE Youth Zones.
The new sessions, delivered through Health for All’s ACE (Active Clubs Experience) project, are creating welcoming spaces where young people aged 11–17/18 can come together, get involved in sport and enjoy positive activities after school.
The Youth Zones will run every Thursday at Beeston Village Community Centre (LS11 8DQ), from 4:45pm to 6:45pm, and every Wednesday in Middleton at Tenant Hall Enterprise Centre (LS10 4HX), from 4:45pm to 6:45pm.
Whether young people already love sport or simply fancy giving something new a go, the sessions are designed to offer something for everyone.
ACE has already been making a difference to children and young people across South Leeds through a wide range of sports sessions, community activities and exciting trips during the school holidays. The new Youth Zones build on that work, providing even more opportunities for young people to get involved locally.
“We want to give young people somewhere positive to go where they can have fun, be active, make new friends and develop their confidence. Sport is a great way of bringing young people together and giving them something positive to be involved in.”
A key part of the new Youth Zones will be making sure young people themselves have a say in what happens.
Participants will be encouraged to share their ideas, suggest activities and give feedback about their experiences. ACE will use those views to help shape future sessions and make sure the Youth Zones remain fun, welcoming and inclusive.
Coaches will also encourage young people to get involved at their own pace – whether they are already confident in sport, want to develop new skills or simply fancy trying something different.
One young person who takes part in ACE activities said:
“I like coming to ACE because there is always something to do. I can play sport, have a laugh with my friends and meet new people. It’s a really good place to come after school.”
Another added:
“It’s good having somewhere to go where you can see your friends and do something active. I’ve tried sports that I wouldn’t normally have done.”
The Youth Zones are part of ACE’s wider commitment to giving young people positive experiences, building confidence and helping them discover new interests.
That work has included the ACE Healthy Holidays programme, which has provided children and young people with opportunities to take part in sport, outdoor activities and trips during the school holidays.
One recent trip took a group of children to Action Zone for an action-packed day of outdoor fun. The young people got active, ran through the woods, took part in a range of activities and, most importantly, enjoyed spending time together.
It is a great example of how ACE uses sport, adventure and shared experiences to create memories that young people can take away with them.
One young person who took part said:
“The trips are one of my favourite things because you get to go somewhere different, have fun with your friends and do things you might not normally get the chance to do.”
The new Youth Zones will also help ACE build even stronger connections with young people and communities across South Leeds.
By listening to what young people want, ACE hopes to develop activities that reflect their interests and give them a real voice in shaping what happens in their local area.
The sessions are expected to be particularly popular with younger teenagers, and ACE will monitor attendance and feedback over the coming months to make sure the Youth Zones continue to meet the needs of young people across the wider 11–17/18 age group.
The launch of the Beeston and Middleton Youth Zones marks another exciting step in ACE’s work across South Leeds – creating safe, positive spaces where young people can be active, make friends, build confidence, try new things and, most importantly, have fun.
ACE Youth Zones are funded by Leeds Youth Alliance.
This post was written by Richard Weaver
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