Chill. Create. Be You.

The Zone and Zone Go are free youth spaces for 11–18s offering drop-in creativity, games, arts and wellbeing activities in public spaces across the UK. Designed with young people, they bring accessible arts, social connection and cultural opportunity to town centres, festivals and community settings.

Whether you want to play games, try something creative or simply sit back and relax, there's something for everyone. Every time the doors open, the message is the same: walk in, no cost, no pressure. Stay for ten minutes or the whole day. Some people come to DJ or paint, others come to hang out with friends, meet new people or simply enjoy having a space that's theirs.

The Zone

In 2022, we asked more than 1,500 young people from our home city of Lincoln what they needed most. They told us they wanted somewhere they could spend time with friends, feel welcome and explore their creativity without pressure or expectations.

In summer 2024, those ideas came to life with a seven-week pilot in Lincoln city centre. The Zone welcomed 927 visits from young people.

What began as a pilot quickly became something much bigger. Since then, The Zone has welcomed thousands of visits from young people and travelled to towns and cities across the East Midlands, transforming public spaces into vibrant places filled with creativity, connection and opportunities to try something new.

Every Zone is different, but you'll always find a mix of places to chill, artist-led workshops, games, creative activities and friendly youth workers ready to welcome you.

Zone Go

As The Zone grew, we realised not every young person can easily get to a town or city centre.

So we asked ourselves: what if The Zone could come to them?

Zone Go was created to take everything that makes The Zone special and bring it directly into neighbourhoods, parks and community spaces.

Built around a specially designed van with inflatable spaces that pop up around it, Zone Go creates a welcoming youth space almost anywhere. With creative workshops, games, places to relax and friendly faces, it brings free arts and cultural opportunities closer to where young people already are.

Tour Dates & Locations

2026

Zone Go - BD:Festival, Bradford
18 - 19 July 2026

The Zone - Lincoln City Square
22 July - 15 August 2026

Zone Go - Mansfield
- Civic Centre
- Ladybrook Community Centre
- Carr Lane Park, Warsop
- Mansfield Market Place (Mansfield Carnival)
27 July - 1 August 2026

Zone Go - Lincoln
- St Giles YMCA Youth Centre
- Lincoln Arboretum
- Ermine Sudbrooke Drive Community Centre
- Moorland Community Centre
- Birchwood Leisure Centre
3 August - 4 September

The Zone - Gainsborough
19 - 22 August 2026

The Zone - Spalding
25 - 29 August 2026

2025

The Zone
Mansfield Market Place
21 - 31 May 2025

Sleaford Market Place
5 - 8 June & 18 - 21 September 2025

Newark Market Place
10 - 13 July 2025

Lincoln City Square
18 July - 29 August 2025

2024

Lincoln City Square
17 July - 3 August 2024

Lincoln Under Pelham Bridge
7 - 17 August 2024

Lincoln Moorlands Community Centre
21 - 31 August 2024

When The Zone or Zone Go is open, young people aged 11–18 can drop in for free activities, creative experiences and a welcoming place to hang out — no booking required. Parents or carers complete a quick registration form the first time, and young people can then check in as often as they like throughout the programme.

The Zone and Zone Go are designed for young people who already spend time independently in public spaces, such as parks, town centres and high streets. We provide a safe, welcoming place where they can relax, get creative and connect with others while they're out and about. Our activities are supervised by trained staff, but as the spaces are located in public areas, young people are free to come and go as they choose.

All of our Youth Arts Workers are DBS checked and trained in safeguarding and first aid. The Zone and Zone Go are delivered by Zest, a registered charity and National Portfolio Organisation supported by Arts Council England. You can find out more about us here.

Impacts & Outcomes

Young people told us loud and clear that there aren’t enough safe, creative spaces for them. School and online life bring huge pressures, while youth services across the UK continue to shrink. The Zone was designed in response — a place to belong, to be heard, and to find joy.

And it works. In 2025, The Zone became a go-to spot for thousands of young people:

• Over 3,000 visits from young people across Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.

• 54 days of free activities, games, and creative hang-out space.

• 36% of the young people who joined us had never taken part in arts and culture before.

• An average of 64 young people a day choosing The Zone as their place to chill, create and be themselves.

• 91% told us they felt welcomed and included, with many also saying they felt they were able to express themselves creatively.

The Zone is more than a space — it’s a tested, impactful model of youth engagement that can transform your town centre, festival, or community event. Want to find out more? Use the links below.

For Zest

PARTICIPATION COORDINATOR
Jack Wilkin

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Adam Pownall

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Toby Ealden

PRODUCER
Beki Doig

PRODUCTION MANAGER
Lindley Productions

INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION
StageLinc

BRAND & GRAPHIC DESIGN
Fabric.

R&D PARTICIPATION COORDINATOR
Georgina Weller

R&D WORKSHOP ARCHIVIST
Daniel Morgan

YOUTH ARTS WORKERS
Caley Starbuck
Emma Chippendale
Eve Herrick
Harriet Shonfeld
Joanna Knight
Katie Miller
Lachlan Madin
Lauren Williams
Oliver Neary
Rachael Phillips
Tinashe Chipawe

ZONE AMBASSADORS
Alex Boyce
Alfie Ealden
Alisha Hammond
Caleb Cooke
Cody Green
Ethan Jennings
Grace Bishell
Isabelle Johnson
Julia Frydenberg
Oskar Bakowski
Sophie Mavers-Chance
Tony O’Flanagan
Victoria Johnston

For AirClad

CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Nick Crosbie

PROJECT MANAGERS
Nick Halbert
Emma Peareth

DESIGNERS
James Bristow
Julia Bugajska

GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Sam Clemance

GENERAL MANAGER
Kerry Campbell