Salford Lads Club made famous by The Smiths faces closure as bosses issue desperate plea

Salford Lads Club made famous by The Smiths has gone public to ask supporters to help raise £250,000 otherwise the Manchester institution faces closure - ending years of history

Salford Lads Club which was made famous by iconic bands including The Smiths, has issued a desperate plea to its supporters to help raise £250,000 by next month.

The Manchester venue, which first opened in 1903 and has been a "lifeline" to the under-privileged communities of Manchester, faces closure if it is unable to raise the funds. This would mean the end of a long-running history that has been part of the careers of many bands, that have now achieved legendary status, including The Smiths.

However, a rise in costs combined with a reduction of grant income, means the Manchester venue will run out of money in eight weeks. In 1985, the club was used as the setting for an iconic album cover for The Smiths, as it pictured the band members stood outside the historical venue.

The club has also featured in hit dramas including Peaky Blinders, Mrs Biggs and Cold Feet. But it also transcended into the world of fashion as Chanel booked out the space to host a star-studded bash, ahead of a fashion show in the Northern Quarter.

Annually, the club spends £15,000 on utilities, £15,000 on building maintenance and insurance adds up to £13,000. The club needs £108,000 to cover monthly losses for six months while staff work on plans to generate income. It's believed £55,000 is needed for new staff for six months in order to get this done. It's also been calculated that £98,000 is needed to replenish the reserves.

It offers sport among many other activities to more than 200 people in one of Manchester's poorest areas. Laura Slingsby, who works as the Head of Youth Operations told Manchester Evening News: "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."

She added: "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’."

She continued: "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." Salford Lads Club is based in Ordsall and it's ben reported that 689 children under the age of 16 live in low-income families. The local child poverty rate is high among older children, which has now risen to 57 per cent between the ages of 11 to 15. This is the highest rate in the city of Manchester.

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