On Saturday 26 September 2026, the Imagine This Partnership came together for a special culminating event, marking the end of several months of lead-up engagement, outreach and co-design with young people in Torbay, taking place from May to September 2026.
The day’s events were co-led and co-planned by an incredible team of 15 young people who assembled as part of the ‘Make it Happen Crew’. From July to September, they met, planned, and shaped the way the day unfolded. Huge thanks and major credit to them all: Ramona, Jo, Sophie, George, Louis, Katie, Rebekah, Lucas, Ami, Kay, Terry, Bertie, Jack, Daisy and Lydia.
Taking place across a very full Saturday at People’s Parkfield and Parkfield Sports Hall, the Powered By Youth event celebrated youth voice in a diverse and eclectic array of forms.
Young people were supported by regionally embedded and trusted partner organisations to say what they wanted to say, and to do so however they wanted to say it.
As each group of young people shared what they wanted to say, interactive spaces were held for facilitated discussion to follow.
The event was attended by a wide array of partner organisations, including representatives from the police, public health, the local authority, local councillors, the youth hub and other key statutory services.
Everyone who attended came along to listen and to think about how they could take action based on what they were hearing directly from young people.
The event also celebrated the incredible young people in Torbay – via nominations for the Children and Young People Awards, which took place later that evening. They featured via the ‘Wow Wall’ throughout the day.
Whilst these events were taking place inside the Sports Hall, partner organisations Fuel Youth and The Acorn Centre took the YMCA outreach bus to the front of the youth centre, creating a space for engagement with young people at the skate park.
Youth voice was expressed via photographic exhibitions, music, drama performances, films, podcasts, drawings, artwork, and more.
Voices and perspectives were also shared from the lead up outreach work which had taken place across July & August – in local youth centres and open green spaces, engaging with young people from across Torquay, Paignton and Brixham.
This was a potent and impactful day – where children and young people were directly heard by those in positions of decision-making power, and it also was made possible by genuine partnership working from a wide range of VCSE organisations.
The outcomes and actions from this day will roll forward across the next few weeks and months, and we’ll share whatever we can here, in order to evidence the impact that this new youth voice mechanism is having in the Torbay region.
Huge thank you to all the Imagine This partners for their time, energy and investment in building this model. It feels really inspiring to be part of it.
