Youth Voice is an initiative set up and run by young people which aims to support young people in employment, education and learning and to encourage young people to empower themselves. Their mission statement is 'youth voice recognises all young people and their unique talents by encouraging originality and creating opportunities to achieve'.

In its excellent location in the city centre Youth Voice operates as a drop in centre which young people can access as and when they want to. It caters for around 600 young people between the ages of 8-24 who are from a range of different cultural backgrounds and faiths, including Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Jewish and Bahai. A wide variety of fun, interactive and recreational activities are available at Youth Voice, such as sports, art and music activities, which aim to boost self-confidence and esteem and develop skills to bring communities together. It also produces a magazine called On Air, which has a circulation of 2000 and comes out every 6 months. This is designed and produced by young people.

The initiative is a fantastic example of a project created and run by young people. Because the young people are in charge they have ownership over the projects and it gives them a sense of accomplishment and credit once the projects are finished. Youth Voice started in 1998 and is in its seventh year and still going strong.

Project type

• Youth groups

Region

• Leicester