Young people across Manchester celebrated the official opening of the city’s newest charity HideOut Youth Zone last week.
Located in Belle Vue, HideOut Youth Zone is a brand-new youth charity which has been set up to provide young Mancunians with somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to, and it opened its doors on Saturday 26th September.
Following months of isolation – which has taken its toll on young people’s physical and mental wellbeing – the Youth Zone will play a key role in supporting young people for years to come.
Open to young people aged 8-19, and up to 25 for those with additional needs, the Youth Zone provides members with access to an indoor climbing wall, four-court sports hall, fully equipped gym, 3G all-weather pitch, music room with recording suite, training kitchen, dance studio, health and well-being room, arts and crafts area and much more.
All of these fantastic facilities are available for just 50p per visit too.
The £6.6million state-of-the-art youth facility – which is based on the successful OnSide Youth Zones model and will be the 14th Youth Zone in the national OnSide Network since the charity began in 2008 – was originally due to open in Spring 2020, however due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, plans for a spring opening were put on hold.
The HideOut Youth Zone was declared officially open in a ribbon cutting ceremony last week.
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The ceremony was conducted by Capital Donor Fred Done, representatives from Manchester City Council and young people from across the community.
Guests in attendance at the ceremony also heard from, Alex Kennedy, 16 – who is one of the young people involved in the development group that created the Youth Zone – as she shared a touching speech about her involvement with the charity.
“I’ve been part of the development group working on this Youth Zone for over a year now.
It’s amazing to see all our hard work has turned into a fantastic building which will help to support and encourage young people.”
Alex Kennedy
Fred Done – Capital Donor at HideOut Youth Zone – added:
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“I am fortunate that I am in a position to help set up this centre which officially opened today.
I’m from a working class background not so far away in Salford and know how important it is that young people get a chance to better their lives.
My message to youngsters in East Manchester is come on down and enjoy this fantastic centre that’s right at the heart of your community.“
All the photos from HideOut's amazing Grand Opening on Saturday 26th September 2020
In order to provide essential youth work support to young people, the team at HideOut Youth Zone has implemented new safety measures that are in-line with guidance from the government, Public Health England, the NHS, Health and Safety Executive, the National Youth Agency and wider stakeholders including Manchester City Council.
The COVID-19 safety measures in place at HideOut include capacity management, social distancing and hygiene stations throughout the building.
Initially, the Youth Zone will limit the number of young people able to attend and all members will take part in activities in bubbles of no more than 15. As restrictions ease and guidance allows, the Youth Zone will then implement an open offer, which enables young people to turn up and take part in as many of the 20+ activities on offer each evening.
Without restrictions on capacity, HidOut Youth Zones across the country can typically welcome up to 250 young people every evening.
Adam Farricker – Chief Executive at HideOut Youth Zone – said:
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“Although it is not the opening we had originally planned, we are proud to be welcoming young people into the building and provide much-needed support for many young people during this challenging time.
I’d like to say a huge thank you to HideOut’s supporters and funders for turning this dream into a reality for young Mancunians.
Today marks the start of a very exciting journey for the City’s young people.”
HideOut Youth Zone will now be open throughout the week, with different sessions for juniors (8-12) and seniors (13-19 and up to 25 for those with additional needs).
Annual membership costs £5, and then members pay just 50p per visit.
You can find out more information and book activities via the HideOut Youth Zone website here.
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Tommy Fury vs Darren Till press conference descends into foul-mouthed chaos
Danny Jones
The first press conference ahead of Tommy Fury vs Darren Till was held on Tuesday evening and it didn’t take long for the whole thing to descend into absolute bedlam.
Having only been confirmed on Sunday, Fury vs Till will be a homecoming bout for the Wythenshawe-born fighter who is set to headline the first-ever boxing match at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena.
With the date set for 18 January, the pre-fight build-up and media frenzy are growing fast and things have already come to ahead in just the first meeting between the two fighters in London this week.
Clearly sharing plenty of bad blood already, while Tommy and Till were engaging in the usual fighting talk, the family patriarch, John Fury, decided to interject and it was at this point that things boiled over.
‼️ Tommy Fury vs Darren Till press conference descends into chaos as Till tells John Fury: "Shut up, you haven't been seen since Oleksandr Usyk battered Tyson."
As you can see, amidst the various insults being thrown around regarding intelligence, boxing ability, Tommy’s older brother Tyson being “battered by [Oleksandr] Usyk”, ‘Big John’ then launches a bottle of water across the table at Till, sparking a hot-tempered on-stage skirmish.
The lengthy exchange features as many expletives as you could imagine, with 31-year-old Darren Till also threatening that he will “bladder” both Tommy and his more established heavyweight sibling Tyson, labelling the entire Fury family “shithouses” as they walk out of the London press conference.
A mixed martial artist by trade who has competed at both welterweight and middleweight in the UFC, Till assured that even if the boxing match isn’t going his way on the night, he will kick [him] square in [the] face”, adding that he’s a “proper fighter” and that Tommy, on the other hand, has no power.
YouTube turned musician and occasional boxer, KSI – the founder of the Misfits promotion who is putting on the event and who Fury beat back in October last year – can also be heard whooping from centre stage and shouting, “Get your tickets!”
Even after the mini-brawl is separated, the foul-mouthed back and forth continues for some time. You can see another angle here:
Press conference aftermath 🤯@darrentill2 was going IN on the Fury’s 😳
This isn’t the first time things have boiled over at a Fury press conference; in fact, it’s not even the first time John Fury, 59, has found himself in the very eye of the storm.
Meanwhile, the youngest Fury son is preparing first his first fight in over a year, having nearly joined this year’s I’m a Celeb lineup instead.
Tickets for the now highly-anticipated boxing match at Co-op Live, just the second combat sports event to have been held at the arena, are on sale now – you can grab yours HERE. It’s going to be a feisty one.
Festive Grinch-themed cafes to pop up inside Greater Manchester Primark stores
Emily Sergeant
Festive Grinch-themed cafes are popping up inside two of Primark’s biggest Greater Manchester stores in the run-up to Christmas.
As the temperatures turn colder by the day, the nights draw in, and the most wonderful time of the year nears closer and closer, it won’t be long before it’s time to snuggle up in our comfies and pop on the first Christmas film of the year – and for some of us, there’s a good chance that first film of choice will be The Grinch.
Whether you prefer the 2000 fantasy comedy starring Jim Carey, or the 2018 animated reboot with Benedict Cumberbatch, it’s undoubtedly a real family favourite.
To celebrate everyone’s favourite grumpy green grouch, Primark has teamed up with Dr. Seuss once again on a Grinch-tastic collaboration.
Festive Grinch-themed cafes have popped up inside Greater Manchester Primark stores / Credit: Supplied
Shoppers can now head to their nearest Primark store to find the largest-ever Grinch collection, with something for the whole family, as well as great gifting options said to be “ideal for getting into the anti-Christmas spirit”.
There’s Grinch pyjamas and slippers for both adults and kids, a Grinch ‘Onesie’ that’s sure to make people green with envy, Grinch drinks cups and mugs, a selection of loungewear and Christmas jumpers for festive dressing, and so much more, as well as whole host of Grinch-inspired outfits and toys for your four-legged friends too.
As part of Primark’s aim to offer affordable choices for everyone, prices for the Grinch collection start at just £1 for accessories, and go up to £24 for adult clothing.
If the return of the Grinch collection wasn’t exciting enough as it is, the all-new Grinch cafes – which are popping up in Primark on Market Street in Manchester city centre, as well as Primark in Trafford Palazzo – are bound to be hit with fans of the furry character.
There’s everything from green waffles and themed milkshakes, to festive toasties, hot drinks, and more on the menu.
With Greater Manchester Grinch cafes set to be open until the end of December, Sarah Jackson – who is the Director of Licensing at Primark, said: “We’re so excited to roll out our amazing cafe experience across a number of our UK locations, bringing a sprinkle of mischief to our customers this festive season.
“Whether you’re stopping in for a sweet treat or stocking up on pyjamas and gifts for the whole family, we have everything you need to make it a truly unforgettable Grinch-mas.”
Emily Sergeant -
29th September 2020 
