Following the recent announcement of Manchester Building Society’s North West revival, Empower Youth Zones have confirmed the building society as their latest patron donor, supporting the charity’s new site, Salford Youth Zone (SYZ), which is set to open in summer 2025.
As part of its commitment, Manchester Building Society will donate £100,000 over the next four years to support the development of SYZ. It joins the growing Empower patron community, funding vital programmes and services for young people, including sports clubs, music facilities, and art and craft classes.
Following its merger with Newcastle Building Society, Manchester Building Society has announced it will open a flagship branch on King Street later this year. This will be followed by further branches opening across the Greater Manchester region with accessible financial advice, market-leading customer service and the provision of free community space at the heart of the Society’s offer.
Its commitment to supporting SYZ follows Newcastle Building Society’s decades-long track record of community investment and support in the North East. Manchester Building Society also plans to work with the Youth Zone to promote financial literacy and employability skills for its young people, equipping them with the skills to make informed financial decisions and build long-term stability.
Once open this summer, SYZ will support thousands of young people across the city, giving them access to hundreds of activities within its state-of-the-art facilities, following the success of the first Empower site, HideOut Youth Zone, in Gorton.
To support the launch and continued development of Salford Youth Zone, Manchester Building Society joins patrons such as Salix Homes, Muse, Assura, and Sandywood Property.
Representing Manchester Building Society, Andrew Haigh, chief executive of the Newcastle Building Society Group, said: “It’s an exciting time for us as we relaunch in Manchester this year and deepen our roots in the city by committing to initiatives that unlock the potential of individuals, families, and communities in the City Region. We intend to focus our powerful partnership with Salford Youth Zone on developing the financial and personal empowerment of young people in Salford.”
Adam Farricker, CEO of Empower Youth Zones, said: “Every young person deserves access to a youth worker and the support they provide. Patrons like Manchester Building Society play a crucial role in helping us deliver on that vision. Financial literacy remains a significant challenge, and addressing it is crucial to creating equal opportunities for young people across Greater Manchester. We’re looking forward to working closely with the Manchester Building Society team as they get embedded and contribute to the wider community.”
