Reimagining Youth Voice

On 27 January 2023, we took a fresh look at how young people are invited into decision-making in Plymouth.

“Youth influence has waxed and waned,” Matt Bell reflected, noting that we’ve been here before—but this time, we want it to stick.

Together with Martyn and others, we reworked a draft invitation to professionals across the city. The goal? A call to collaborate *with* young people, not just design for them.

We asked: what would it take to truly support youth-led spaces, where young people shape agendas and not just respond to them?

This wasn’t about performative youth panels or token consultation. It was about power-sharing.

As the invitation evolved, so did our clarity. It had to speak to professionals, yes—but more than that, it had to feel like a doorway, not a hoop to jump through.

The invitation is just a first step. But it signals something bigger: our commitment to building platforms, not just pipelines—for youth voice that’s heard, valued, and acted on.