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Dozens of young people gathered in Chesterfield to address key issues affecting youth today.
The 37th Hope Hack saw young people from across North Derbyshire gather at Chesterfield FC’s SMH Group Stadium for a series of talks and workshops, hosted by Derbyshire Violence Reduction Unit and the football club’s community trust.
After sessions covering social media, emergency first aid, drugs, policing and criminality – including two former prisoners sharing their stories – the young people gathered in small groups to share their own opinions, connections and experiences and to develop potential solutions to the problems they face. They then had the opportunity to present their recommendations directly to community leaders.
PC Claire Gilburn, a youth engagement officer with Derbyshire Police, said: “This was an opportunity to engage with young people from our community, to break down barriers.
“It’s a two-way thing. I want the young people to know the police are approachable and they can engage with us and then, from their point of view, they can tell us what they want from us, what do they want to see from all the stakeholders present, what do you want from us and what can we give back to you.”
As well as the hard-hitting sessions, attendees also enjoyed performances, including from rapper Strizzy Strauss, singer-songwriter Niamh Toner and spoken word poet and youth worker Nathan Parker, who was performing at his sixth Hope Hack.
Nathan said: “Every time it just blows me away. It’s a great reminder of why we do what we do when we work in the community, when we work with young people and strive towards bringing about positive change.
“They’re really infectious because young people, no filter, tell you how it is, what’s wrong, but also what’s right and where solutions can be found.
“I hope young people take from these that they are valued parts of the communities and what they’ve got to say is important.”
Hope Hacks, which have taken place across the country, are designed to inspire and empower young people to contribute towards positive change in their communities.
They are part of a broader initiative by the Hope Collective – a partnership of cross-sector organisations, including national youth work charity UK Youth, working to create change for young people and communities – to encourage open conversations with young people about the issues they face.
Gary Trowsdale, on behalf of the Hope Collective, said: “A Hope Hack is a way of bringing entire communities together around the work being done to reduce violence impacting young people’s lives. That’s why we work so closely with the VRUs, but also bring in youth work specialists so you get the best of borth worlds.
“Young people get an awful lot out of a Hope Hack because they are given the opportunity to speak candidly about the issues that affect them. What I believe young people get from Hope Hack is a sense of worth and a sense of belonging and most importantly of all, a feeling that people are there for them. Hope Hacks bring the community together and create relationships.
“It’s about young people realising it’s not just about youth voice, it’s about the youth truth, actually listening to what they are saying and having a group of responsible adults working on their behalf to give them what they feel they need to be safer in their communities.”
About UK Youth
UK Youth is a leading charity with a vision that all young people are equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives. With an open network of more than 9,000 youth organisations and nation partners; UK Youth reaches more than four million young people across the UK and is focused on unlocking youth work as the catalyst of change that is needed now more than ever. To find out more, visit ukyouth.org
UK Youth is involved in a range of programmes designed to help young people thrive, such as outdoor learning, physical literacy, social action and employability. For more on UK Youth’s programmes, see ukyouth.org/what-we-do/programmes
About the Hope Collective
The Hope Collective is a powerful partnership of cross-sector organisations with aligned values and a shared vision; to work together in a spirit of unity to create real change for young people and communities across the UK. To find out more, see hopecollectiveuk.org
The post Young people offer Hope for the future at special Hack appeared first on UK Youth.
