Saif’s Story
Name: Saif
Age: 17
Youth Zone: Wigan Youth Zone
Meet Saif, a 17-year-old member at Wigan Youth Zone.
“I didn’t used to live in the UK, I moved here in November 2020. I didn’t know what a Youth Zone was. I’d passed by it multiple times when I moved to Wigan and I thought that’s not a place for me. Some of my friends said “you like volleyball, you like this activity and you want to be more confident, come to Wigan Youth Zone – it will help you”. I thought why not, I’ll try it, it’s only £5 a year and 50p per session (which I was surprised about!) I’ll go for it.
Going in there, meeting everyone in the rec area, they are the nicest people, I wasn’t expecting as much kindness. From there I found so many different rooms to try, like the sports hall, the enterprise room and dance studio where I’ve learnt to express myself which has helped me be more confident about my body.
Right now, I live alone with my brother, so the enterprise room has helped me with how to manage money, how to build a business. I came from another country with a completely different culture, having the opportunity to talk to other young people was a different thing. I’ve learnt to be more confident, how to communicate and to be respectful to every single person. You cannot demand respect if you can’t give it – it’s a two-way street.
I feel schools don’t teach you how to manage in the real world, how to manage your money or yourself, or how to manage your time. Enterprise at Wigan Youth Zone has taught me how to work with money, even in the kitchen I’ve learnt how to cook some recipes so I’m not eating junk food all the time.
I liked the building so much I wanted to give back in some way. My experience just kept getting better as I became part of Youth Voice, and being a Young Leader at the Youth Zone. Being a Young Leader gave me essential experience that from it I’ve got a job in a primary school as a teaching assistant. I don’t think I would have got that job if I was not a young leader.
I even became an OnSide Ambassador and have been on trips with the lovely OnSide team. I’m very appreciative of all the support from everyone at OnSide for giving me opportunities I don’t think I would have ever got.
Riley’s Story
Name: Riley
Youth Zone: Inspire, Chorley Youth Zone
Meet Riley, a 14 year old member at Inspire, Chorley Youth Zone.
I joined the Youth Zone as I wanted to meet new people and to learn more skills, it has helped a lot coming here. I was eight when I joined, so I wasn’t doing much before I came here. Now I come in for near enough every session, learning more and more skills, taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh, using the machines in the Makers Zone to create things.
When I first started, I was a little bit nervous because I didn’t really know people. Once you start coming regularly, you engage with staff and the activities, and you find a group who are your type of people and who you want to be friends with. I feel a lot more confident than when I first started. I engage a lot more, do more activities, and try more rooms out.
Coming to Inspire has really helped my health mentally and physically. I’ve also benefitted from meeting people and socialising; you can bounce ideas with people who have the same problems as you, inside or outside of the Youth Zone.
What I like about coming to the Youth Zone is you get to learn new skills. For example, I learned the drums, and a little of the guitar when I first started. I’ve learnt a lot about cooking, climbing, basketball, football, and more. Staff really are there to help with any problems you have outside of the Youth Zone.
I started DJing as like a hobby just ’cause I’m into my music. Two months ago, one of the rec workers brought DJing equipment in and I got to try them. One of our youth workers helped me learn this new skill, and I’m doing one the parties in a few weeks. The Youth Zone has massively helped me to learn new skills, including DJing, drumming, coding, basketball, football and meeting new friends.
I’m much more confident speaking to people, I’m a lot more aware of how people think and what to say and what not to say. I’m learning to how to treat people the best that you can and how to engage with other.
Isiss’ Story
Name: Isiss
Youth Zone:The Way, Wolverhampton Youth Zone
Meet Isiss, a 12-year-old member at The Way, Wolverhampton Youth Zone
I’ve been coming to The Way Youth Zone for about a year now. Since joining The Way, I’ve tried so many new activities. I’ve learned climbing, basketball, and football, which has become one of my favourite things to do. I first got into football through the girls-only sessions at The Way. Those sessions made me realise that football isn’t just for boys—girls can play too! I even realised that I’ve got some real talent, especially as a goalkeeper.
Playing football here gave me the confidence to try out for my school football team. I was nervous at first, but I got chosen for the team at the start of Year 7. Our first match went really well – we won 10-1! I was the goalkeeper and did my first ever goalkeeper dive, which felt amazing.
Football at The Way has taught me so much. I’ve learned teamwork, how to communicate better, and how to encourage others. During matches, I’ve started being more of a leader, helping organise my teammates and making sure everyone knows who they’re marking. It’s made me more confident.
The Way has helped me in so many other ways too. I’ve improved my cooking skills – I’ve learned new recipes and better chopping skills, which are really useful. I’ve also gotten better at art and learned new painting skills. And in basketball, I’ve finally learned how to score!
I’ve made lots of new friends through The Way, especially at football. I know all the girls who play and it’s such a great feeling to be part of a team. The Way has helped me find my voice, believe in myself, and grow as a person.
I’m so happy the staff here have helped me so much here. Football has made a huge difference, and I can’t wait to keep playing and improving!