Croydon’s Legacy Youth Zone Empowers Young People through Youth Voice Group
Legacy Youth Zone, a charity dedicated to providing a safe space and opportunities for young people in the UK, has seen great success in empowering young people through its Youth Voice Group. The group, which was introduced at the start of the year, aims to give young people a voice in the running of the charity and has since helped plan community events and other initiatives.
Led by the Youth Engagement Officer, Ellie, the Youth Voice Group meets weekly and discusses areas they would like to see change within the Youth Zone. With the support of the network of youth zones in the UK, Legacy Youth Zone provides a safe and welcoming environment for young people to access opportunities they may not be able to elsewhere.
In its latest Youth Voice Update for 2025, Legacy Youth Zone highlights the significant progress made in youth leadership, co-production, and organizational influence. Over the past few months, young people have been actively involved in decision-making processes, event planning, and strategic discussions with senior leaders and trustees.
Since its launch in July, the Youth Voice Group has held 13 weekly sessions, with a regular core attendance of four to eight members. These sessions focus on building skills such as confidence, teamwork, communication, and creative problem-solving.
In addition to the Youth Voice Group, Legacy Youth Zone also launched a new Junior Council three weeks ago. The council, which meets every Tuesday, has seen eight consistent members each week and aims to give younger members a platform to influence, improve, and introduce initiatives within the Youth Zone.
Camron, a senior member at Legacy Youth Zone, spoke highly of the Youth Voice Group, saying, “The Youth Voice gives me a special place to communicate with the Legacy staff and the mainstream students. It gives me ideas on how to make Legacy better in different ways, whether it’s organizing outings or giving the building upgrades. Spaces like this make me feel completely safe and without judging or feeling restricted.”
Ruthie, another member of the Youth Voice Group, shared her positive experience, saying, “Youth voice has given me a place to be vocal and make decisions for things I didn’t think I had a say in. It’s also been a supportive and open space to bounce ideas off the group without fear of judgment.”
The Youth Voice members have also played a crucial role in co-planning and delivering Legacy’s Birthday and Community Day, which included shaping themes, food choices, and activity ideas. Additionally, several members volunteered on the day, contributing to the event’s success.
Furthermore, members of the Youth Voice Group have been actively involved in the planning of the Open Mic event on 27th September and have collaborated with staff members to develop the new Legacy Magazine, which will spotlight young people’s achievements, interests, and commentary.
The Youth Voice members have also represented Legacy Youth Zone at the VRU Changemakers Summit (Safe Life Mission) at The Organ Factory, where they shared their perspectives on youth violence, housing, knife crime, social media, political issues, and wider community concerns.
Their participation at the summit has not gone unnoticed, as Youth Voice representatives were invited to present an update to Legacy’s Board of Trustees earlier this term. As a result, a new Youth Voice Action Point will now appear in every board meeting, ensuring young people’s feedback directly informs organizational decisions.
Looking ahead, Legacy Youth Zone is focused on strengthening the Youth Voice cohort, expanding creative and skills-based opportunities, and preparing for major youth-led contributions to the URW redevelopment consultation and future governance engagement.
Legacy Youth Zone continues to be a shining example of how empowering young people and giving them a voice can bring about positive change in the community.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.