Powering On Project Delivers Inspiring Youth Week Across Leicester and Leicestershire

Leicestershire Cares Powering On Project Delivers Inspiring Youth Week Across Leicester and Leicestershire

During the February half-term, the Powering on Project brought together partners from across Leicester and Leicestershire to deliver an engaging and empowering Youth Week, creating safe, creative spaces for young people to connect, learn and be heard.

Working in partnership with Leicester Youth Services, AAA Foundation, Golden Token Community Hub, Haymarket Shopping Centre and 2 Funky Arts, the project delivered a packed programme of activities across the city and county.

Youth Week at Haymarket

From Monday to Thursday, 10am-2pm, Haymarket Shopping Centre was transformed into a vibrant youth hub. Young people aged 16-25 were invited to take part in a range of creative and developmental activities including podcasting, DJing, breakdancing, arts and crafts, chill-and-chat spaces, and information and signposting.

Across the four days at Haymarket, 35 young people engaged with the programme. In total, over the course of the week - including city and county delivery – Powering on project worked with and engaged 73 young people.

Special thank you goes to the young people who are part of our Leadership Programme, who stepped up to lead and deliver several of the podcasting sessions. Their commitment, confidence and ability to facilitate activities for their peers was fantastic to see, demonstrating the power of youth leadership in action.

We would also like to extend a special thank you to Haymarket Shopping Centre and all their staff for their continued support, hospitality and for providing a welcoming and accessible space for young people in the heart of the city.

Theatre Trip and Employability Support

On Monday, we also arranged a cross-project theatre trip for Arts Award participants and other young people to experience a live musical performance of Cirque Enchantment. Seventeen young people attended the trip, beginning the session with an employability session focused on transferable skills, communication and future pathways.

The theatre experience supported young people to build confidence, improve communication skills, develop cultural awareness and strengthen peer relationships - all within a positive and inspiring environment.

Supporting Young Voices in Coalville

The Powering on Project extended into the county on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, where the team supported half-term youth activities at Coalville CAN. Across the two evenings, around 11 young people engaged in activities designed to capture their voices, views and lived experiences, ensuring young people from Coalville were included and heard.

Hard and Soft Outcomes

The week delivered a range of measurable (hard) and developmental (soft) outcomes:

Hard Outcomes:

• 73 young people engaged across the week
• 35 young people engaged at Haymarket
• 17 young people attended the theatre trip
• 11 young people engaged in Coalville evening sessions
• Employability session delivered
• Multiple creative workshops delivered including podcasting, DJing and arts activities

Soft Outcomes:

• Increased confidence and self-esteem
• Improved communication and teamwork skills
• Enhanced leadership skills through peer-led delivery
• Greater awareness of local support services through information and signposting
• Increased cultural engagement and aspiration
• Strengthened relationships between young people and youth providers

This Youth Week showcased the strength of partnership working and the impact of collaborative, youth-centred delivery. By meeting young people where they are - in community venues, cultural spaces and accessible city-centre locations - the Powering on Project continues to empower young people, amplify their voices and support their personal and social development across Leicester and Leicestershire.