youth voice
Turning lived experience into action.
We support young females to speak up about the issues affecting their lives, challenge decision-makers and lead change in their communities.
Through youth-led panels, creative events and civic conferences, young females turn their ideas into action and shape the world around them.
Young people are experts in their own experiences, yet their perspectives are often missing from decisions that affect them. Our Youth Voice strand creates opportunities for young females to identify the issues that matter to them, organise collectively and bring their ideas directly to communities and decision-makers.
With no selection criteria for our open-access youth panels, participants take the lead in shaping projects, managing budgets and delivering events. Along the way, they build confidence, develop practical organising skills and discover their power to influence change.
What we deliver
Our work is delivered through two youth-led projects that turn ideas into community action and opportunities to influence change.
1 — Project INSPIRE
Young people leading change in their communities.
Project INSPIRE gives young people the resources, freedom and platform to plan, budget and deliver their own community events and creative showcases. Youth panels choose the issues they want to address, develop campaign ideas, bring people together and manage events from start to finish.
Through this process, participants gain hands-on experience in leadership, teamwork, budgeting, communication and event management, while creating opportunities that benefit their local communities.
2 — Project PROTECT
Young females shaping safer communities.
Project PROTECT is an annual youth-led safety conference focused on street safety, gender-based violence and mental health provision. Young females share their lived experiences directly with decision-makers, including council officers, police representatives and public safety leads.
The conference goes beyond raising awareness. It creates space for young females to put forward practical recommendations and influence local conversations, policies and responses to the issues affecting their safety and wellbeing.
Our impact
Our impact demonstrates how youth-led action empowers young females to influence change, build meaningful connections and ensure their voices are heard by decision-makers.
"I felt listened to at the Project PROTECT event. It made me realise that decision makers actually want to hear what young women have to say about safety in Brighton."
— Project Protect Participant