All young people have skills, talents, and dreams but not everyone has the opportunity to discover and unlock them, reducing their chances to lead a fulfilling life.

Warrington Youth Zone is an innovative, state-of-the-art, youth facility located right in the town centre which is due to open officially on 2nd July, and will be open every day of the year for young people from all backgrounds, aged 7 to 19 (up to 25 with additional needs).

Offering a minimum of 20 different activities on every session, Warrington Youth Zone will offer young people somewhere safe and inspiring to go, something positive and enriching to do, and crucially someone trusted they can talk to.

Transforming youth provision in the town for over 7,000 young people, facilities include a full-size sports hall, climbing wall, skate park, performing arts studio, health and fitness suite, film and multi-media room, sound recording studio, and a football pitch on the roof! Added to this are a wide range of targeted programmes for our more vulnerable members helping them to boost their resilience, gain coping skills, and access support when it is most needed.

To raise awareness and much needed funds to ensure the delivery of enriching activities and support services for young people, Warrington Youth Zone Vice Chair; Chris Purslow is taking on the extreme and daring challenge of the 'Escape Alcatraz Triathlon'!

Surrounded by 'shark infested' waters and strong currents, no prisoner ever escaped Alcatraz Island. Undaunted by this, Chris will be jumping in the ice waters of San Francisco Bay on 5th June to swim 1.5 miles to the shore (hoping that a Great White can tell the difference between a meaty seal and a skinny Brit in a wetsuit!).

Not content with this, Chris will then take on a hilly, 18 mile bike around steep San Francisco streets, followed by an 8-mile run which includes the infamous 400 step Sand Ladder, and is currently in training 6 times per week including 5 miles of swimming.

Please donate to ensure that the doors of the Youth Zone can open, day after day, and enable young people to develop their emotional and physical wellbeing, make new friends, and ultimately unlock their potential.