THE ASOS Foundation are building on their investment in the Barnsley Youth Zone having launched a £1.5m collaboration with OnSide.

Base 71 in the town centre is being run by OnSide, and it’s the first youth zone that the organisation has created in Yorkshire.

The ASOS Foundation has been supporting the project - and it is now extending its support to benefit young people across the country.

This new investment will support youth workers across OnSide’s four London Youth Zones to begin with, before expanding to a further six youth zones by 2028.

The funding will ensure the roll-out of a youth worker career programme, which is already being piloted across the network.

This five-year development initiative is designed to support junior youth workers through to degree-level, while continuing their crucial paid roles in youth zones.

This partnership comes at an important time for the youth sector, which continues to feel the impact of sustained funding cuts and increasing demand.

Since 2010, local authority spending on youth services in England has fallen by over 70 per cent, leading to the closure of hundreds of youth clubs and a significant reduction in youth work roles.

Thanks to this partnership, it’s anticipated that a total 35,000 young people will benefit from vital youth work support.

Jamie Masraff, chief executive of OnSide, said: “We are really pleased that the ASOS Foundation is extending its partnership with us and bringing much-needed investment into the youth sector.

“Youth workers are the backbone of our youth zones, providing guidance, support and inspiration to thousands of young people every year.

“This partnership will enable us to further invest in their development, creating clearer career pathways and ensuring they have the tools and training to make an even greater impact on young people in their communities.”

José Antonio Ramos, ASOS Foundation trustee and ASOS CEO, added: “Our pioneering partnership with OnSide cuts to the heart of the ASOS Foundation’s mission of breaking down barriers for young people to achieve amazing things.

“The youth worker career pathway will not only deliver long-term, sustainable change for those directly involved, but also contribute to the wider success of youth work right across the country helping drive long-term community impact.

“We’re proud to be extending our partnership with OnSide and are also looking forward to the launch of Yorkshire’s first OnSide Youth Zone, Base71, in Barnsley in the months ahead.”