Young Voices

Starting Point are proud to be a part of the Young Voices group.

Young Voices is a group of young people from across Reading who come together to discuss and share issues that matter to them. Working with youth focussed organisations and decision makers across Reading to help the voices and experiences of young people to be heard and influence the decisions they make.

Why ?
It’s a place for Young People to be listened to and not just heard. The opinion of the young people of Reading is important to hear and the Young Voices group can help raise issues in the area that haven’t been brought up previously.

Content Creation and Social Action
Young Voices create video and blog content to share their voices and experiences with other young people, professionals and adults.

They create commissioned work for organisations and services etc. University of Reading and the Community Safety Partnership.

three teenage females smiling at the camera
Welcome to the summit
A teenage girl is asking a question to the shopping centre manager
Meeting with The Oracle team
Two young people writing on a big sheet of paper
Safety Summit workshop
A young female is being interviewed by two other young females
Promo filming
six smiling young people in a line
The Young Voices team
Young people standing around a table writing things on a big sheet of paper
Young Voices intro session
a discussion between young people and adults
Summit round table

Some of what we’ve done

Young Voices Annual Safety Summit
160 professionals and young people from across Berkshire West came together for the Young Voices Second Annual Safety Summit. Representatives attended from 9 local schools, Reading Borough Council, Wokingham Borough Council, West Berkshire Council, Thames Valley Police, Reading Buses, The Oracle Shopping Centre, the office of MP Yuan Yang, and several organisations and charities that work with young people.

Young Voices Online Safety Summit
Young Voices participants welcomed over 200 attendees to the summit at the sign in desk, introduced themselves and guest speakers on stage,  were interviewed by the media and supported the general runnings of the day – all after many meetings and months of planning and shaping the whole event!

Young Voices Partnership Working
Through the Starting Point Alternative Provision for schools projects, we have worked with the Young Voices and other partners to produce strategy documents and feedback for the council, videos aimed at students starting University, and more.

Through sharing their experiences and knowledge, Young Voices participants:

  • Engage with and inspire their peers and professionals
  • Are the young voices of Reading who inform local services about what young people experience and need in their community
  • Co-produce and co-deliver talks, presentations, videos and strategies
  • Have their skills and contributions recognised through the AQA Unit Award Scheme
Blogs featuring Young Voices
See more on Young Voices here:

Young Voices Instagram page

No.5 Website