North East teenagers look to shape their future at Hope Hack

A ‘Hope Hack’ to give young people a voice convened one hundred young people from the North East together to discuss key topics affecting their futures.

The event was organised by NCS (National Citizen Service) as part of their role in a coalition of cross-sector organisations bringing together their expertise to help young people create change. Formed originally to support the 20th anniversary legacy campaign for Damilola Taylor, the ten year old schoolboy killed in London in 2000, the Hope Collective have been running a series of events across the UK, bringing young people together and allowing them to explore solutions to societal challenges.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness opened the event, reflecting on the passing of one of the event’s founders, Damilola’s dad Richard Taylor, and gave the young participants, aged 13-17 from across the region, inspiration as they embarked on a day of activism and idea generation. 

Graeme Armstrong gave a rousing speech about his journey from street gangs in Scotland to becoming a bestselling author, broadcaster and speaker.

The young participants also saw a contribution from activist Patrick Hutchinson, whose image was seen by millions after he carried a counter-protestor to safety during a Black Lives Matter protest in 2020.

The Hope Hack also featured policymakers from key regional bodies such as the North of Tyne Combined Authority, North East Poverty Commission, Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit – with young people having the opportunity to tell them what needs to change.

After a day of inspiring chatter, including topics on inequality, mental health, community safety, education and employment. The ideas discussed by young people attending Hope Hacks will help inform the Reimagined report, which will be delivered to the government in 2024.

Organisations supporting NCS included Violence Reduction Unit, Newcastle Careers Team, Children North East, The Key, Loud Speaker, Mortal Fools, NE Youth, The North East Youth Alliance, Street Games, Youth Focus: North East and  Elemore Hall School, who contributed and helped shape discussions around poverty and inequality, physical and mental health, community safety, and education and employment.

Rylie Sweeney, aged 18 from Teesside, is Chair of the Youth Advisory Group at the Careers Enterprise Company, Youth Ambassador for Children’s Commissioner England  and NAWIC North East and Tees Valley Committee, and also fits in her day job as an apprenticeship site manager with Willmott Dixon. Rylie said: “It’s been an inspirational day empowering and inspiring young people and hearing their ideas. It’s so important that young people’s views are heard and listened to. They represent so many diverse backgrounds, experiences and have so many great ideas.”

Kirsty Beeston, Engagement Manager at NCS Trust, said: “We wanted to bring a Hope Hack to the North East to allow young voices to be heard by the region’s policymakers. With so many topics and challenges facing their generation, it’s important that they have their say.

“The day has been a real success, with young people getting a taste for community activism and the chance to network, present and share their ideas and have their voices heard. The first Hope Hack in the North East has given our region’s young people a platform to get involved in the important decisions that will affect their future  in what is a transformative year for the North East in light of the upcoming North East devolution.”

Northumbria Police and Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, said: “The young people in that room today were not only inspiring but they spoke a lot of sense. They’re our future leaders, game changers and people with purpose and hearing their voices speak up, I feel our region is in good hands when it comes to delivering on some real hopes for the future. 

“These hope hacks are such a great opportunity to not only tell young people that we’ve got their back but, crucially, sit back and actually listen to them. With the passing of one of the event’s founders Damilola Taylor’s dad, Richard, only this weekend, it has felt an extra honour to be hosting the latest Hope Hack here in Newcastle. We’ve heard views and ideas on such important changes needed to help fight things like poverty and crime and improve lives through better jobs and health support. By working together with young people to address concerns and deliver improvements, I firmly believe the North East can become the home of real opportunity.”