Youth Engagement

The Youth Council is a place where children and young people can share their ideas and help make things better in the city. Here, one member explains what happens in the meetings and how everyone works together to make a difference.

The Stoke-on-Trent Youth Council meets every two months. It gives young people a place to share their ideas and talk about what life is like for them, their friends, and others in their schools and communities. This helps the council create and improve services so they meet the real needs and hopes of young people.

In every youth council meeting, students can express their thoughts and concerns on important topics, such as mental health and vaping. We talk in table groups to encourage open discussion, and we can share our opinions with everyone if we choose to.

We begin meetings with a quick, fun icebreaker, like a teamwork game or two truths and one lie. This helps people feel comfortable sharing their voice and encourages a supportive and inclusive environment, while also helping everyone get to know each other better.

To keep everyone engaged, we have breaks between sessions where we can grab a drink or snack and take a moment to recharge before the next activity.

Every now and then, we get visitors from different businesses and organisations who come for feedback and ideas on how they can improve their services for young people and the city. This gives students a real chance to influence decisions and see the impact of their input.

Right now, we are electing our new chairs for the year, and we have added new positions for anyone interested. This lets people take initiative and build their leadership, communication, problem‑solving, and teamwork skills. These roles are chosen through an anonymous vote so the process is fair and everyone’s voice is valued.

If you would like to be involved in the Youth Council, please contact youth.voice@stoke.gov.uk who can put  you in touch with your school or college’s Youth Council lead.