You can read the Lancashire Hope Hack summary report here: Lancashire Hope Hack – Summary Report.
Young people from across Lancashire were invited to have their voices amplified in an event focussed on reducing inequalities and making the county a safer and fairer place for all.
On Friday 22nd September, Lancashire Violence Reduction Network and local partners bought together young people from across the county and provided them with the opportunity to inform leading policy makers on key issues that will help them to make their community feel fairer and safer.
Topics discussed in youth-led workshops throughout the day included key societal issues like mental health, police relations, education, cost of living crisis and community safety.
Over 85 young people from a range of backgrounds attended the event from schools, colleges, pupil referral units, and youth work organisations.
Thoughts and ideas were shared with a panel of leaders including the High Sheriff of Lancashire, David Taylor CBE, Reporter and Presenter, Ashley John-Baptiste, Divisional Commander, Stasia Osiowy, CEO of Lancashire County Council, Angie Ridgewell and Senior Policy Advisor from Office for Local Government, Katherine O’Connor MBE.
The views collected from Hope Hack events across the country will form the basis of the ‘Reimagined’ report, produced by the Hope Collective. It will be presented to political parties for consideration ahead of the next general election. This unique report will outline what young people would like to see happen to make the UK a better place to live and grow up in.
Susannah Clarke, Lancashire VRN Director, said: “We couldn’t be prouder of the current generation of young people in Lancashire, the passion and ambition we saw on that day truly was inspiring. It is so important that young people get the chance to have their voices heard, and more importantly, are being listened to by decision-makers in all sectors across the county.
The Hope Hack was a great way for us to further understand the complexity of the challenges young people are faced with daily in Lancashire and to work with them to come up with solutions to prevent further inequalities. We know that young people often have the answers and as one of the young people said on the day, they are the experts by experience.”
Gary Trowsdale, Hope Collective Program Director said: “Preston was the 20th Hope Hack that’s been staged across the UK and it was out and out one of the most aspirational.
Hope Hacks bring a range of community organisations and youth charities together to support young people and make them stakeholders in shaping solutions to social ills that impact their communities. Lancashire’s VRN did a fantastic job and delivered a magical experience for everyone that took part.”
The Hope Collective is a grass-roots organisation which was formed in partnership with the Damilola Taylor Trust and a range of other public and voluntary bodies.
You can read the Lancashire Hope Hack summary report here: Lancashire Hope Hack – Summary Report.
