News

Andy Haldane spotlights OnSide in Financial Times article “How to put Britain back on the opportunity escalator”

william.sandford@blenheimchalcot.com (William Sandford) — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 08:58:07 GMT

The piece highlights a growing national conversation about the need to remove barriers and create real, lasting opportunities for young people across the UK. Notably, Haldane specifically spotlighted OnSide as an exemplar of the approach he advocates, recognising its impactful model through Youth Zones, spaces co-designed with young people to be inclusive, inspiring, and filled with possibility.

BBC One Show Highlights OnSide and Salford’s Inspiring Young People

natalie.allibon@blenheimchalcot.com (Natalie Allibon) — Wed, 14 May 2025 17:00:08 GMT

Young people are at the heart of every Youth Zone created by OnSide – and this passion was brought to life in a recent feature on BBC One’s The One Show, which aired on Tuesday 13th May.

The episode featured OnSide’s incredible work in Salford, ahead of the launch of its 16th Youth Zone this summer. The spotlight was firmly on the Salford Young People’s Development Group (YPDG) – a group of passionate young individuals who have been instrumental in shaping their new Youth Zone from the ground up.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: A Teenage Prodigy Redefines IPL History

natalie.allibon@blenheimchalcot.com (Natalie Allibon) — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 07:00:00 GMT

In a season already full of remarkable moments, 14-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has written himself into cricket folklore with a record-breaking century that has stunned fans and pundits alike. Playing for the Rajasthan Royals, Sooryavanshi became the youngest player in the history of T20 cricket and the Indian Premier League to score a century, achieving the feat in only his third match.

A Star is Born in Jaipur

On 28 April 2025 at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, Sooryavanshi delivered a performance for the ages against the Gujarat Titans. Opening the batting in pursuit of a daunting 210-run target, the teenager made an immediate impact. He reached his half-century in just 17 balls, the fastest of IPL 2025, and went on to score a blistering 101 from 38 deliveries.

Oxford Edge: Christ Church Launches New Innovation Centre

natalie.allibon@blenheimchalcot.com (Natalie Allibon) — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 09:28:12 GMT

Christ Church, Oxford has opened Oxford Edge, its new Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, backed by Blenheim Chalcot. The Centre will educate, inspire and empower students from across the University of Oxford, offering them the chance to develop their own entrepreneurial ideas.

HRH The Prince of Wales Visits Scale Space

natalie.allibon@blenheimchalcot.com (Natalie Allibon) — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 13:17:51 GMT

It was an inspiring and memorable day at Blenheim Chalcot and Scale Space, as we had the honour of welcoming His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales for a visit.

The Prince joined us to meet with Mental Health Innovations and The Mix Charity, alongside their Youth Advisory Board, to engage in meaningful conversations around mental health and innovation.

Scale Space Wins Incubator/Coworking Space of the Year Award

natalie.allibon@blenheimchalcot.com (Natalie Allibon) — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 11:05:20 GMT

Scale Space is proud to announce that it has once again been recognised as the Incubator/Coworking Space of the Year at the West London Business Awards for 2025. This marks an impressive milestone, with Scale Space securing the award for the second consecutive year.

Celebrating Our 2023/24 BC Graduate Programme Cohort

natalie.allibon@blenheimchalcot.com (Natalie Allibon) — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 15:49:51 GMT

We’re excited to celebrate our 2023/24 cohort of graduates, who have successfully completed the BC Graduate Programme by taking on the Venture Challenge!

Divided into four teams, the graduates developed innovative solutions to real-world business problems sourced from our portfolio, using customer discovery. After an intense one-day Hackathon, teams presented their ideas to Senior Leaders, receiving such a positive response that follow-up discussions are already underway.

OnSide Summit: Celebrating the Impact of Youth Zones

natalie.allibon@blenheimchalcot.com (Natalie Allibon) — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 11:21:39 GMT

The annual OnSide Network Summit recently took place at WEST Youth Zone in London, bringing together leaders, supporters, and advocates to celebrate the life-changing impact of Youth Zones across the UK.

Memorable Day for London Youth Zones at the Lord Mayor’s Show 2024

natalie.allibon@blenheimchalcot.com (Natalie Allibon) — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 10:35:31 GMT

On Saturday 9th November 2024, over 50 floats and 7,000 participants took to the streets of the City of London to welcome the new Lord Mayor, Alastair King.

Among the dazzling floats was a vibrant entry by OnSide & Blenheim Chalcot, showcasing a collection of young people’s artwork to celebrate five years of OnSide Youth Zones in London. Members from all four London Youth Zones—Unitas in Barnet, Future in Barking and Dagenham, Legacy in Croydon, and WEST in Hammersmith—joined the procession with pride, representing their communities and creativity.

The Lord Mayor’s Show, the world’s oldest and longest civic procession, spans three miles through the streets of London, drawing thousands of spectators and millions more via the BBC One live broadcast. This year’s show included a special feature of the Lord Mayor’s recent visit to WEST Youth Zone, where he engaged with young members and even joined a member called Pierson in the boxing ring for a memorable training session. At the event, members had the chance to interview him, marking an exciting moment for all involved. Watch the interview here!

For young people in the London Youth Zones, the day was unforgettable. Hannah, a member of WEST Youth Zone, shared her excitement: “I’m great, I’m having a really good time; the music is loud, and it’s really nice!” Hannah explained that WEST, an acronym for “Where Everyone Sticks Together,” is more than just a youth centre—it’s a supportive community where young people can enjoy themselves and take their minds off daily stresses. Reflecting on the unique opportunities she’s had through WEST, she said, “I personally have had many opportunities, like meeting Prince William and the Lord Mayor.”

The 2024 Lord Mayor’s Show was a day of joy, community, and creativity, and young people from the London Youth Zones walked away with memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.

Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Naming Competition Live!

natalie.allibon@blenheimchalcot.com (Natalie Allibon) — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 09:00:00 GMT

“Since I became Dean last year, we have been preparing to celebrate our first 500 years in 2025 and, more importantly, looking to the future and building plans to serve students for the next 500 years. The project announced today is a vital part of this work, helping students and academics make the most of the huge entrepreneurial potential within Christ Church, and the wider University.”
– Professor Sarah Foot, Dean of Christ Church

Blenheim Chalcot are very pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for Oxford students to leave their mark. As part of the establishment of the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Blenheim Chalcot and Christ Church are launching a naming competition that celebrates the Centre’s mission of creativity, collaboration, and innovation.

We’re inviting Oxford students to propose a name that reflects the Centre’s commitment to pioneering innovation and forward thinking. Whether inspired by Oxford’s rich history, entrepreneurial ideas, or unique culture, each submission will be evaluated on how it aligns with the Centre’s mission and vision.

Deadline: Midnight, Friday, 22nd November.
Judging Panel: Centre representatives, faculty, and established entrepreneurs.
Winning Announcement: Early in the new year.

Prizes:
£2,000 cash prize for the winning entry
Up to 5 internships with Blenheim Chalcot

This competition is just the start. By connecting Oxford’s academic community with entrepreneurs, venture specialists, and alumni, the Centre will empower students to develop skills, gain insights, and launch ventures in fields ranging from natural sciences to deep technology, social impact, and civic innovation.

The Centre is supported by leading entrepreneurs including Charles Mindenhall, Founding Partner of Blenheim Chalcot, Tom Blomfield, Partner at Y Combinator and Co-Founder of Monzo and GoCardless, Matt Clifford, CEO of Entrepreneur First and leader of the Government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan, Dan Houser, Co-Founder of Rockstar Games.

Let’s shape the future of entrepreneurship together.

Sign up to receive updates about the Centre.

Find out more about the Centre by visiting the landing page.