Ørsted has joined forces with national charity OnSide and invested £1 million to support the development of the Horizon Youth Zone, a safe, inspiring place for North East Lincolnshire’s young people to spend their leisure time.

The Grade II-listed West Haven Maltings building in Grimsby town centre was converted with great care into the Horizon Youth Zone. The centre opened in February 2026 and has been created for young people aged 8-19, and up to 25 for those with additional needs.

Ørsted hopes that the centre will become a catalyst for future regeneration and investment in Grimsby and will help boost the aspirations of young people, including those who wish to pursue a career in offshore wind and renewable energy.

Ørsted is committed to investing in local communities and so far has invested over £1 billion in the Humber region and opened the UK’s largest operations base for offshore wind at Grimsby’s Royal Dock. 

Its East Coast Hub at Grimsby’s Royal Dock is home to six offshore wind farms – supplying clean electricity to millions of homes and businesses across the country.

A team of almost 700 people work across Ørsted’s East Coast operations and Humberside Airport, from turbine technicians and marine specialists to data analysts and apprentices.

Horizon Youth Zone will give young people a choice of over 20 activities to enjoy every day, including indoor climbing, sports, arts, drama, music, media, cooking and more.  

Ørsted’s funding will also support the Youth Zone’s Employability and Enterprise Programme, which will see specialist youth workers and partners help young people who are not in education, employment or training to gain the confidence, skills and experience they need for the future.

During the development of the Youth Zone, Ørsted worked with the Young People’s Development Group (YPDG) to ensure youth voices shaped the look, feel and spirit of the new youth zone.

From creating the Horizon Youth Zone’s logo, featuring the iconic Grimsby Dock Tower, to picking out paint colours and interviewing every single youth zone employee during the job application process, the Young People’s Development Group put their stamp on the centre.

Ørsted looks forward to its continued partnership with the Youth Zone and to helping young people gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to give them the best start in their careers.