BLACKBURN YOUTH ZONE
The Youth Zone's principle activity is the provision of a purpose built, world class 21st century facility for sport and recreation in Blackburn for young people aged 8-18 years old. The Youth Zone delivers a range of high quality universal youth work services, seven days a week, which will be accessed voluntarily by young people on a membership basis.
Latest income
£5.3m
Latest spending
£2.8m
Registered
2010
Accounts read
FY2025
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a total surplus of £2,435,969 for the year ended 31 March 2025, driven largely by restricted Youth Investment Fund income. Per the trustees' report, unrestricted free reserves stood at £712,026, which the trustees consider sufficient to cover 4.2 months of operating costs against a policy target of three months.
What the accounts disclose
Largest income source: Donations and legacies (72% of income)
“Total income 1,422,312 3,860,029 5,282,341” — page 36
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Fundraising cost ratio: 5.1% of fundraised income, as disclosed
“Total expenditure for the year was £2,846,372 (2024: £2,383,435), of which £269,384 (2024: £188,697) related to fundraising activities” — page 27
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Reserves policy: three months of unrestricted expenditure (held: £712k)
“the Trustees have determined that it is appropriate for unrestricted, ‘free’, reserves to be maintained at a minimum of 3 months.”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
In the news
- Entrepreneur's tech outfit is latest Blackburn Youth Zone patron
- Blackburn Youth Zone celebrating its 'busiest time ever'
- Blackburn Youth Zone to host Zumbathon in celebration of International Women’s Day
- Blackburn College and Blackburn Youth Zone team up to future proof town's youth
- Blackburn Youth Zone worker suspended after man 'physically and verbally attacked' at Soccerdome
- IN PICTURES: Cultural differences forgotten as loved up Blackburn Youth Zone couple tie the knot
- After School Club just 50p at Blackburn Youth Zone
- Andrew Graham's Blackburn Youth Zone mission — to generate firm promises
Property (HM Land Registry)
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)
Total income
£5.3m
Total spending
£2.8m
Cost of raising funds
£269k
Reserves (reported)
£712k
Employees
84
Trustees
- ANDREW HAROLD GRAHAM
- Adam Salim Sidat
- Emma Louise Swan
- Jack Harvey Lamb
- Julia Bates
- Kathryn Debra Robinson
- Martin Anthony Kelly
- Michelle Dixon
- Phillip Skupski
- Rt Hon John Whitaker Straw
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £5.3m | £2.8m |
| 31/03/2024 | £2.7m | £2.4m |
| 31/03/2023 | £1.8m | £1.9m |
| 31/03/2022 | £1.8m | £1.8m |
| 31/03/2021 | £1.7m | £1.3m |
Common questions
Is BLACKBURN YOUTH ZONE financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a total surplus of £2,435,969 for the year ended 31 March 2025, driven largely by restricted Youth Investment Fund income. Per the trustees' report, unrestricted free reserves stood at £712,026, which the trustees consider sufficient to cover 4.2 months of operating costs against a policy target of three months. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by DonnellyBentley Ltd.
Who funds BLACKBURN YOUTH ZONE?
Funders whose own accounts filings name BLACKBURN YOUTH ZONE as a grant recipient include ISSA FOUNDATION, THE ONSIDE FOUNDATION, John Lewis Partnership Foundation, Brian Mercer Trust, THE HARGREAVES FOUNDATION.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISSA FOUNDATION | FY2024 | £324k | |
| THE ONSIDE FOUNDATION | FY2025 | £152k | Capital |
| John Lewis Partnership Foundation | FY2023 | £100k | Darwen Youth Hub fund |
| John Lewis Partnership Foundation | FY2024 | £100k | Extension grant for Darwen Youth Hub |
| Brian Mercer Trust | FY2023 | £95k | |
| Brian Mercer Trust | FY2024 | £95k | Causes Local to Blackburn Lancashire |
| THE HARGREAVES FOUNDATION | FY2025 | £85k | |
| Brian Mercer Trust | FY2023 | £75k | Causes Local to Blackburn Lancashire |
| THE ONSIDE FOUNDATION | FY2024 | £62k | Grants to Blackburn Youth Zone |
| Brian Mercer Trust | FY2025 | £45k | |
| THE REED FOUNDATION | FY2022 | £32k | Christmas Challenge |
| PETER HARRISON FOUNDATION | FY2023 | £20k | to support the pilot year of the Try, Train, Teach sports and physical activity programme. |
| Brian Mercer Trust | FY2022 | £10k | Charitable Activities |
| THE REED FOUNDATION | FY2021 | £5k | |
| HEREFORDSHIRE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | FY2025 | £3k | |
| MAY HEARNSHAW CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2023 | £2k | Other |
| SKIPTON BUILDING SOCIETY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | FY2025 | £1k | |
| AFPA TRUST | FY2024 | £500 | Donation |
| AFPA TRUST | FY2025 | £500 | Donation |
| AFPA TRUST | FY2023 | £500 | Donation - Blackburn Youth Zone |
| THE EDWARD GOSTLING FOUNDATION | FY2022 | £0 | |
| HAYS TRAVEL FOUNDATION | FY2024 | £0 |
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 30/04/2026 | £50k | StreetZone: Outreach Rain or Shine |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 05/09/2025 | £18k | Food for the Future: Training Kitchen Programme |
| Sport England | 06/09/2024 | £14k | Female Energy in Sports |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 08/08/2024 | £195k | "Wonderful Electric" |
| UK government | 15/12/2023 | £55k | DCMS-NCST - TRG - 301 |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 28/07/2023 | £10k | MH – Summer Street Zone |
| Crowdfunder | 30/12/2022 | £14k | Local Action Fund |
| Sport England | 21/06/2022 | £8k | Jubilee Fund - Triple T: Try, Train, Teach |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 14/04/2022 | £10k | It's a Jubilee Knockout |
| Sport England | 15/07/2021 | £10k | COVID19 Return to Play |
| UK government | 29/07/2020 | £60k | Coronavirus Community Support Fund |
| Sport England | 04/06/2020 | £10k | COVID-19 CEF |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 22/04/2020 | £10k | COVID-19 Whatever it takes |
| Sport England | 22/10/2019 | £10k | Active Together |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 14/03/2019 | £8k | Blackburn and Me (Our Identity) |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 29/10/2018 | £29k | "Strong Sisters" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 09/03/2017 | £8k | "‘We Take Them and Make ThemÂ’ - a project inspired by Mitchell & Kenyon filmmakers" |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 10/08/2016 | £9k | BYZ Free to Be Project |
| Sport England | 18/03/2016 | £10k | Wheelchair Sports Club Development |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 03/12/2014 | £10k | BYZ Out There |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| NEWBY TRUST LIMITED | 2 | £30k |
| THE STOLLER CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £654k |
| THE JD FOUNDATION | 1 | £561k |
| STEPHEN TAYLOR FOUNDATION | 1 | £245k |
| THE NISBET TRUST | 1 | £111k |
| THE STONE FAMILY FOUNDATION | 1 | £105k |
| THE POPLE CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £100k |
| IGY FOUNDATION | 1 | £85k |
Charities like this
- CARLISLE YOUTH ZONE
- MAHDLO (OLDHAM YOUTH ZONE)
- THE MANCHESTER YOUTH ZONE LIMITED
- YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION
- GRIMSBY YOUTH ZONE
- BLACKBURN YMCA
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLACKBURN YOUTH ZONE | £5.3m | — | — | unclear | 5.1% | no doubt |
| CARLISLE YOUTH ZONE | £1.2m | — | 0 | within | — | no doubt |
| MAHDLO (OLDHAM YOUTH ZONE) | £1.8m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE MANCHESTER YOUTH ZONE LIMITED | £3.2m | £70,000 - £75,000 | 1 | within | — | no doubt |
| YOUTH FIRST CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION | £1.7m | — | 0 | unclear | — | noted |
| GRIMSBY YOUTH ZONE | £10.7m | £60,001 - £70,000 | 1 | above | — | no doubt |