Creative YOUCreativity is everywhere. Opportunity is not. We are part of the solution. The secret is in our name. Every year Creative Youth Network gives thousands of young people a taste and thirst for the arts and culture and the joy, life-skills and opportunity they bring. But we want more. Creative YOU is our campaign showcasing how we, you and the engaged, emerging and amazing young creatives we support, come together. We want to reveal how, together, we are ambition, quality, cultural democracy and social mobility in action. Every young person deserves the right to access creativity and development opportunities in the creative and cultural industries. It all starts with education. If all young people have access to creative subjects in school, then talented young people from all backgrounds can pursue their passion, develop crucial skills needed in so many industries and improve their wellbeing. 1. Pledge Add your name and join the many people passionate about bringing creativity back into our schools. With all the pledges we’ll be reaching out to headteachers in Bristol and the South West. We hope this will encourage local academies to give more space to creativity in their curriculum. Bristol, being the creative city we know and love, can pave the way for other regions to do the same, showcasing the true value of creativity. PLEDGE 2. Sign up Join us by signing up to our newsletter where we share best practice of how to support young people. sign up 3. Find out more Join us by reading and sharing our CreativeYOU report which shows how our work brings opportunities for creative expression and enables young people to explore their talent, regardless of background or circumstance. Download our Creative YOU report Celebrating Our Young People| Amplifying Our Youth Voice So far this year, our young people have achieved amazing things, here are just a few we'd love to celebrate! Starting off the year with the eagerness for social change amist the cost of living crisis, one of our youth voice panel and youth media rep member Dasha delivered a petition of over 32,000 signatures to Downing Street with Barnardo’s! Dasha explained that they, felt proud to be a part of it because it’s an important issue that affects a lot of children across England and it should be taken seriously. It’s sad that kids have to worry about if they’re going to eat when they should be having fun with their friends. Primary school kids are so young, and they shouldn’t have to worry about that. Watch Dasha hand in the free school meals petition to 10 Downing Street ⬇️ The importance of young people cannot be overstated. Young people are the driving force behind innovation, change, and progress as exemplified with Dasha. Their fresh perspectives, boundless energy, and unwavering determination often lead to groundbreaking ideas that shape the future. From art and music to technology and social activism, young people are our future leaders... Bringing us on to the next huge accomplishment for our young leaders and our Welcome Wednesday youth service. On Tuesday 14 March, The Bristol High Sheriff's end of year reception and awards evening took place. Welcome Wednesday member Saboor was awarded the young leader of the year by the Bristol High Sherifs. Saboor is an asylum seeker, who came to the UK fleeing Afghanistan after it had been captured by the Taliban. Saboor was in a bad mental state and was alone in the UK. As the days passed, I felt much worse and I had no hope. I was afraid of people. I was in a very dark place in my mind. I thought that nobody loved and cared about me. Until I found The Station.... - Saboor Saboor joined Welcome Wednesday and soon after became a member of the young leaders group. His commitment to helping young refugees and asylum seekers find a safe space at The Station and his work with the young leader's group, and in the city, has not gone unrecognised. Saboor has come a long way from not knowing what will happen with his life to changing the lives of many young people. We’re so proud of him and what he’s been able to achieve in the short time he’s been in the UK. Read Saboor's story One thing about our young people is that they take a very proactive approach to bring about the change they want to see for their future. As we celebrate Youth Day, let's remember that the youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they are the leaders of today. Their voices deserve to be heard, their ideas valued, and their dreams supported. Which is exactly what our young people demanded! Members of our Youth Voice Panel, Adam and Charley attended an APPG (An all-party parliamentary group) on youth affairs at Parliament! It was an opportunity to raise the current challenges young people face when starting their careers. From finding career advice to the skills gaps. The event was enjoyable – talking about young people and how careers can be started was fun to talk about - explained Adam, aged 18. Today's youth are brave, and this is exemplified by this years We the 33 event centred around mental health. The young people bravely shared their experiences with mental health with other young people and key listeners. They then made recommendations on how mental health services could improve to help young people suffering from mental health issues. 🎥 AJ bravely shares their mental health struggles. Watch the Video... (⚠️TW: Talks of self harm and suicide⚠️) Our young people continue their commitment to changing the society around them and making it a better place for everyone. We commit to fostering an environment where young people can thrive. Let's listen to their concerns, celebrate their achievements, and work together to create a more inclusive future for all. Manage Cookie Preferences How can we help?