Blackburn & Darwen Youth Zone Summer Programme 2026 Delivers Record-Breaking Impact for Young People Across The Borough
For parents and guardians, the summer holidays can bring a difficult juggling act – balancing work, childcare and the rising cost of keeping children safe, active and entertained. With holiday childcare costing families £850–£950 per child, the financial pressure can be significant. That’s why accessible holiday provision is so important. For many families, holiday clubs are not a luxury; they provide a safe place for children and young people to go, opportunities to have fun, build friendships and try new activities, as well as access to nutritious food – while giving parents much-needed peace of mind.
That’s where organisations like Blackburn & Darwen Youth Zone play a vital role. This summer, the charity celebrated a record-breaking summer programme, welcoming thousands of young people through its doors across Blackburn and Darwen.
Over the summer, Youth Zone welcomed more than 7,400 visits across its two sites, with its busiest week seeing more than 2,700 visits. The figures highlight the huge demand for affordable, safe and positive activities for young people across the borough. Alongside the activities, the team served an incredible 4,886 free meals, helping ensure young people had access to nutritious food throughout the summer break.
Junior club parent from Darwen said:
“She really enjoyed the holiday club this year, and it’s given her more routine & independence whilst off school. I can’t recommend it enough; the facilities are incredible. Thank you so much for providing this for everyone. It is a safe place for them to make friends and to join in with activities.
Mohammed T Sidat MBE, CEO of IMO, said:
“It’s been fantastic to work alongside Blackburn & Darwen Youth Zone and see first-hand the impact its Summer programme has had on young people across the borough.
The scale of engagement this summer has been incredible, but behind every number is a young person who has had the opportunity to try something new, make friends, build confidence and enjoy a positive experience during the school holidays.
As a delivery partner, we’re proud to play our part alongside the Youth Zone team. Their commitment to making sure young people have access to a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment is clear to see, and it’s been brilliant to be part of a programme that has reached so many young people and families.
We look forward to continuing our partnership and working together to create even more opportunities for young people across Blackburn and Darwen.”
Leon Crosby, CEO of Blackburn & Darwen Youth Zone, said:
“We are incredibly proud of what our teams have achieved this summer. More than 7,400 visits, and serving 4,900 free meals – but behind every one of those numbers is a young person – someone making friends, trying something new, building confidence or simply having somewhere safe to belong. That is what makes this work so important.
To continue providing these opportunities, we need to raise £2.3 million every year to keep the Youth Zone running. Around half of this comes from local businesses, whose support is absolutely vital to our future. We are incredibly grateful to the businesses and supporters who invest in young people across Blackburn and Darwen and help us continue changing lives.”
The record-breaking figures demonstrate the important role Blackburn & Darwen Youth Zone plays in the lives of young people and families across the borough.
Blackburn & Darwen Youth Zone would like to thank its staff, volunteers, partners, funders, local businesses, and supporters for making the Summer HAF programme possible.