Salford

Salford Lads Club ‘secures future’ thanks to nearly £50,000 of funding

The iconic youth club has served the community since 1903.

Emily Sergeant - 14th April 2022

Salford Lads Club has officially secured its future thanks to almost £50,000 of government funding.

Salford City Council has announced that the iconic youth club was successful in being awarded £47,800 from the Culture Recovery Fund that’s delivered by the National Lottery Heritage Fund on behalf of Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

The announcement comes after the club lost an estimated £90,000 of income over the past two years through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Salford Lads Club has served the community since 1903, and is a voluntary led charity.

As well as running a number of sport and creative activities for local young people throughout the city and wider borough of Salford, the club is also home to an extensive archive the documents the lives of teenagers since the venue opened.

To celebrate receiving the worthy funding boost, Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett paid a visit to the club along with Project Manager Leslie Holmes, a number of volunteers, and local young people who are taking part in Foundation 92 activities over the Easter holidays.

“It is absolutely fantastic news that Salford Lads Clubs has secured this vital cash to keep them afloat,” Paul Dennett said.

Thrilled to share we’ve received funding thanks to the government’s #CultureRecoveryFund 🙌 thanks to @HeritageFundUK & the government’s #CultureRecoveryFund via @DCMS, we can continue to serve the community, protect our unique heritage & welcome music fans from across the world pic.twitter.com/566aBTrTk8
— Salford Lads' Club (@salfordladsclub) March 31, 2022

“The club has been a part of the cultural heritage and fabric of the city for almost 120 years, and still provides a wide range of activities, particularly for young people in the local community.

“It’s also well loved internationally thanks to the iconic images of The Smiths outside the club, along with other musicians such as Tim Burgess, Peter Hook, Shaun Ryder and Clint Boon, who have helped to provide fundraising and promotional opportunities for the club nationally and internationally.

“Places such as Salford Lads Club do so much and we must remember the huge positive differences it makes in this city, especially after 12 years of budget cuts at the City Council.”

Featured Image – Travel Mag (via Flickr)