A safe hub of activity, confidence-building and learning in Wolverhampton
From the outside, The Way Youth Zone in Wolverhampton looks small. When you go inside, you realise your eyes have deceived you. It’s vast. It needs to be to accommodate all its great stuff. Stuff for youngsters to do, to try, to enjoy, to build new skills and confidence with.
Facilities include an indoor rock-climbing wall, boxing gym with full-size ring, music studio, arts and crafts studio, dance studio, fully equipped gym, outdoor astroturf football pitch, indoor sports hall with basketball court and multiple badminton courts, quiet zone, sensory room and more.
Tyrone Johnson, philanthropy manager at The Way and a boundlessly positive soul, gave West Midlands News a tour.
Free meals for children
“The Way provides everything that young people need in their daily life to be great citizens,” said Tyrone, from Wolverhampton.
“We have free food for young people who come in. We have all these different facilities. We do all the different sports, creativity, music, cooking, boxing, dance hall – everything that a young person could want, we can provide.
“We also run different workshops for young people as well. We provide the facilities that allow young people to thrive.”
As Tyrone explains, The Way is a charity dedicated to empowering young people aged 8-18 (and up to 25 with additional needs) by providing a safe, inspiring space to explore their potential, build resilience, develop life skills and combat issues like loneliness.
Ethos of acceptance and self-discovery
Rooted in an ethos of acceptance and self-discovery, it encourages youngsters to be themselves, try new activities and foster social connections through inclusive programmes, partnerships and community engagement.
The charity aims to raise aspirations, offering affordable access with free entry, hot meals, for just 50p per visit, operating seven days a week.
Each week, The Way helps around 700 young people, welcoming about 100 every night.
Through activities like SEND sessions, holiday clubs, and trips, The Way transforms lives, boosting confidence and social skills in a welcoming environment.
The Way partners with JLR
As part of a wider partnership between the Jaguar Land Rover Foundation and national youth charity OnSide, half of £250,000 will go directly to The Way.
Paul Snape, chief executive of The Way Youth Zone, said: “This partnership with the Jaguar Land Rover Foundation is a game-changer for young people in Wolverhampton.
“Their investment and commitment mean we can offer even more opportunities for young people to discover their potential, build confidence and prepare for the world of work. We’re proud to work alongside JLRF and OnSide to ensure that every young person has access to the support and experiences they need to thrive.”
A spokesperson for the Jaguar Land Rover Foundation said: “We believe every young person deserves the chance to build confidence, develop skills, and imagine a brighter future.
“We’re proud to partner with The Way and OnSide to help even more young people access the support they need.”
