It is on track to open next year
Members of Youth Moves’ Young People’s Development Group celebrate one year since the start of construction of the 224 Youth Zone(Image: Youth Moves)
A huge new youth centre in South Bristol is a step closer to completion, with the 224 Youth Zone celebrating one year since ground was broken in the construction of its £11m facility.
The centre is on track to open with a ‘soft launch’ in Spring 2026, and will offer a huge range of activities as well as helping to prepare young people for later life through workshops such as employability training.
It is being developed by local youth charity Youth Moves in partnership with national organisation OnSide and Bristol Council. Once operational, the centre aims to support up to 5,000 people each year.
Zak Dugdale, Youth Moves’ head of youth, play and partnerships, is a South Bristol boy born and bred. He said he was so excited to see the impact the new facility would have on people growing up in the area.
“I’m a local boy, I grew up in Knowle, so I really understand the barriers that some young people face in South Bristol, but (I can) also really see what an impact this is going to have,” he said.
“(the centre will be) full delivery, seven days a week, so it’s a really, really exciting time and I’m really looking forward to next year.”
Zak Dugdale, who grew up in South Bristol and now works for Youth Moves, said he could not wait for the new centre to open
The 224 Youth Zone is expected to have its full opening next Summer. It will offer more than twenty activities, from climbing to a recording studio. Zak said it was that variety that stood out to him as the most exciting element of the new centre.
“For me, it’s having these world class facilities for young people all in one place,” he said. “Growing up, obviously, being from South Bristol, this would have been so impactful.
“It’s providing these opportunities to young people which is the key, really, and I can see how much of a positive effect it is going to have.”
One criticism of the new centre, part of OnSide’s national network of Youth Zones, is that it is centralising the youth provision for a large part of the city, while smaller, more in-community centres close due to lack of funding. Eagle House in Knowle West is just one example of a small youth club whose future is in severe doubt.
Another concern is surrounding 224’s location. It will be built on land next to Hartcliffe Way, but very much on the Knowle side. This has prompted fears children from other parts of South Bristol with rivalries with Knowle will not travel to take advantage of 224’s facilities.
Zak said he understood those concerns but pointed out young people in the city were crying out for a facility such as 224. He said he had been inspired by a recent visit to a Youth Zone in Manchester, where some children he met had travelled for an hour to be there.
“We haven’t had something like this since I was a young person and I’ve been working in this sector for 16 years now,” he said.
“As a young person, I would have bitten anyone’s hand off to have these opportunities.
“I’m very hopeful that when you put in world class facilities all into one place, young people will travel to that and I’m very optimistic it is going to bring young people in Bristol closer together. That’s the impact we want to have, and that’s the legacy we want to leave as well.”
Much of the design, and layout of the new centre has been guided by feedback from youngsters, collated by the charity’s Young People’s Development Group, who have visited hundreds of schools and organisations locally and nationally to seek their input.
Youth Moves has also called on the expertise of a wide range of local partners. Partner organisations include the Bristol Sport Foundation, Bristol Robins Foundation, Bristol Bears Foundation, Bristol Young Carers, the West of England Centre for Inclusive Living, Off The Record, The Cause and Knowle West Media Centre.
Youth Moves chief executive Matt Justice said he couldn’t wait to get started in the charity’s new home. “A year on from groundbreaking, it’s inspiring to see how far the project has come,” he said.
“The progress on site reflects the passion, belief and hard work of young people, partners and supporters across Bristol. 224 will be a place where young people can discover who they are, find their strengths, and access opportunities that may otherwise be out of reach. We cannot wait to welcome them into this incredible space.”