Salford Lads Club is on the brink of closure - it needs our help

It's provided a lifeline for young people from deprived communities for 120 years. But now Salford Lads Club is the one in desperate need of our help. Its survival depends on it.

The Greater Manchester institution must find a quarter of a million pounds by the end of November. If it doesn't, it will close.

It would bring an end to a proud history of helping foster young talent from across the region.

'Lying on the edge of an estate in need of regeneration I walked into Salford Lads Club for the first time...I fell in love'

Salford Lads Club opened in 1903 with the mission to 'Brighten Young Lives and Make Good Citizens'. It was officially opened in January the following year.

But rising costs and a reduction in grant income means the world famous club, which does vital grassroots work with children, will run out of money in eight weeks. Now, the Manchester Evening News is calling on people in the region to donate to keep it open.

A fundraiser has been set up to raise the urgent £250,000 needed to save it. Together, we can ensure the club's future.

How did it come to this? A community asset on its knees

Salford Lads Club, based on Coronation Street in Ordsall, has served as a cultural mecca for our region for decades, honing talent from the world of art and sport. The 1960s pop group The Hollies used to practice in the club before they were famous. Young footballers who trained there went on to play for Manchester United and City as well as other top flight clubs. Artist Harold Riley, who died last year, was a member, as was radio DJ and member of the band Salford Jets, Mike Sweeney.

In 1985 the club was used as the setting for an iconic image of Manchester band The Smiths. The image has brought the club global recognition and a source of funding from fans of the group. To this day they make a pilgrimage to the building.

The club's ornate Edwardian building has also been hired out by filmmakers. The building has featured in Peaky Blinder; Last Tango In Halifax; Mrs Biggs; Cold Feet; Blue Murder; and many others films and series. Last year fashion giant Chanel booked out the landmark to host a star-studded party ahead of its show in Manchester's Northern Quarter. Sales from Salford Lads club t shirts went viral after film stars Christopher Eccleston and Maxine Peake posed in them.

But income from visitors and filmmakers is not enough to fund the huge costs of delivering youth work that provides a lifeline to the community. Behind this world-recognised institution is a community asset on its knees.

The club offers sport and other activities six days a week to more than 200 young people in one of the most deprived areas of the country.

Costs have rocketed and the club is finding it increasingly expensive to look after its 120 year-old Grade II Listed home with the care and attention it warrants. The club also needs to employ staff in order to professionalise the running of the club and be able to compete for grants.

Income from grants has slumped because the market has become overloaded and competitive, bosses say. The club's annual utilities bill is £15,000, building maintenance, £15,000, and insurance costs £13,000.

The club needs £108,000 to cover the current monthly losses for another six months while it gets initiatives established to generate more funds long term. But a further £55,000 is needed for new staff for six months to do this. It estimates another £98,000 is required to replenish reserves.

Last year the club's annual income was £160,000. It included donations, money from open days and visitors, hiring out the building, including for weddings, and the online shop.

But outgoings amounted to £394,700.

The vital grassroots work that must continue

Salford Lads Club is based in Ordsall where 689 children under the age of 16 live in low-income families - 46 percent of all children in the area. The local child poverty rate is particularly high for older children, rising to 57 percent at age 11 to 15 years, the highest rate in the city.

“We’ve always been careful stewards of the funds we receive, investing in high-quality youth work and staff to keep our programmes accessible to everyone in the community,” said Laura Slingsby, head of youth operations.

"However, the rising cost of utilities, staff, and operational expenses, combined with fewer available grants, have created an urgent financial need. Our mission has always been to ‘Brighten Young Lives and Make Good Citizens’.

“Today, that mission is more relevant than ever, as many of the young people we serve face challenges like gang culture, poverty, and lack of opportunity.”

The institution continues to provide a wide range of activities. On club nights - Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, there are sessions in football, boxing, table tennis, badminton, basketball, dodgeball, pool, chess, arts and crafts, drama workshops, music workshops, and free food.

Seven years ago the club had no football teams, despite its history of producing professional footballers. Now it has six boys teams and in 2021 set up the first girls team. The teams play on Saturdays and Sundays on the Ordsall Park astro turf and Salford Sport Village.

Laura said: "That’s 120 to 140 young people engaged in healthy activities both physical and mental. It costs £12,000 a season to hire these pitches from Salford Community Leisure. The club carries the entire cost of this to make sure it is affordable to all families."

The club has staged its annual camp every year since 1904 apart from during two world wars and the Covid pandemic. The boys camp and the girls camp engage in activities delivered by professional instructors including: abseiling, rock climbing, canoeing, ghyll scrambling, fell walking, high ropes, archery and bushcraft.

In 2023 it cost the club £18,000 to provide this facility. In 2024 it was considerably less only because they cut some expenses and had some financial support from the Greater Manchester Youth Federation.

Ensuring a legacy for the future

If it can survive the immediate crisis by finding a cash injection, the club intends to set up Salford Lads and Girls Club Legacy Fund. Donations to the fund will last forever. The money raised will be invested in a permanent trust, with a portion of the interest earned downloaded each year as a vital stream of income.

Laura said: "The more we have in the fund the greater the annual returns, helping the club to become and remain self-sustainable. The club needs the urgent cash injection now to help close the current funding gap, as even if £1m is secured for the Legacy Fund now the returns wouldn’t be generated until next year."

In a bid to modernise the club and improve what it can offer it is currently upgrading to a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation). This will provide some of the benefits of a company without some of the burdens.

The initial target is £1.25m: £250,000 for the urgent appeal and £1m for the Legacy Fund - a permanent endowment fund that could draw down £40,000 to £50,000 a year in returns.

To donate to the Manchester Evening News fundraiser, click HERE.