Young People’s Voices Heard in East Riding

Community VISION has published the Volunteen Voice Annual Report 2024–25, showcasing a year of powerful youth-led achievements across East Riding.

Over the past 12 months, the Volunteen Voice project has recorded 639 engagements with young people, ensuring their views influenced local, regional and national decision-making.

Highlights include:

• East Riding Youth Council “on tour” – meetings held in Goole, Bridlington and Beverley, leading to the launch of a new Bridlington Youth Council.
• Youth Parliament success – Members and Deputy Members of Youth Parliament campaigned on issues such as healthy school meals, first aid training, and reducing neurodiversity assessment waiting times.
• Stronger partnerships – collaboration with schools, Humberside Police, NHS, Fire & Rescue, and community groups to make young voices part of key strategies.
• Awards evening – 71 young people recognised for their contributions at the Volunteen Voice Awards 2025.
• Focus on big issues – projects tackling bullying, climate change, youth mental health, period dignity, violence against women and girls, and rural transport challenges.

The report also acknowledges ongoing challenges, particularly engaging more schools and rural communities, but celebrates the positive difference made: boosting young people’s confidence, wellbeing, skills and opportunities.

Detty Tyler, Children and Young People’s Services Coordinator at Community VISION, said:
“We’ve shown how listening to young people helps shape real change. There is still much to do, but the foundations are strong, and we’ll continue to build on them.”

You can read the full report here.