09/01/2026
Base71 Youth Zone will officially open its doors on Saturday 17 January 2026, marking an exciting milestone for young people and families across Barnsley.
Young people will have a chance to try some of the state-of-the-art activities that will be available on session. Base71 features a climbing wall, sports hall, arts and crafts room, dance studio, music room, recording studio and a gymnasium, alongside catering facilities offering a healthy hot meal for just £1.
Operating as an independent charity run by qualified youth workers and volunteers seven days a week, Base71 is the seventeenth Youth Zone developed by national charity OnSide. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 10.15am, followed by a family open day from 11am, celebrating the launch of Yorkshire’s first Youth Zone.
The purpose-built facility will serve as a welcoming hub for young people aged 8–19, as well as those with additional needs up to the age of 25, providing a safe, supportive space where young people can feel secure and included.
Located on Schwäbisch Gmünd Way, the building was part-funded by Barnsley Council, with online retailer ASOS, whose warehouse is based in the town, contributing £1.2 million towards construction costs. Base71’s Founder Patrons programme has seen businesses including Balmoral Tanks and BetterYou donate to the charity, with Next, Ardagh Glass and Yorkshire Rose Holidays also supporting the fundraising efforts in recent months.
Barnsley Council has additionally donated £150,000 to fund a year’s free membership for all young people in the borough, who sign up before the end of March 2026 through its Great Childhoods Ambitions programme. Membership normally costs £5 per year, with each visit priced at 50p. Almost 3000 young people have already signed up.
Base71 CEO Mandy Carlson said:
“After years of planning and countless hours of hard work by our team, we are thrilled to finally open our doors to the young people of Barnsley. We have already exceeded our initial membership and visitor targets throughout our soft launch phase, which clearly demonstrates the demand for Base71 within our community. We are incredibly grateful to all of our supporters and funders, including Barnsley Council and ASOS. Without their commitment, this valuable new asset for the borough would not have been possible.”
Cllr Ashley Peace, Cabinet Spokesperson for Children's Services at Barnsley Council, said: "The opening of Base71 Youth Zone on 17 January is a hugely positive milestone for our borough. This fantastic new facility shows a real investment in our children and young people, providing a safe, welcoming and inspiring place where they can build confidence, develop skills, and thrive.
We're incredibly proud to have worked in partnership to help make Base71 a reality - a place where young people can find encouragement, guidance, and opportunities to unlock their potential. As part of our Great Childhoods Ambition, we're covering the £5 annual membership fee for the first year for all eligible young people aged 8 to 18 in Barnsley - please do make the most of this offer and sign up today."
Vanessa Spence, EVP Brand and Creative at ASOS and Trustee of the ASOS Foundation said
"Base71 is a brilliant new space where young people can feel safe, be inspired and find their community. Through the ASOS Foundation, we invest in highimpact projects that empower young people and create pathways to economic and social mobility, so we’re proud to have opened a hub where young people across Barnsley have the opportunity to try sport, tech, art and music, and to build confidence for the future.”
For more information, visit base71youthzone.org.
