YOUTH VOICE

Youth Voice at The Vale

At The Vale, young people don’t just take part – they shape what happens. Your ideas, experiences and perspectives guide our programme, influence our decisions, and keep The Vale relevant and exciting for the next generation.

We believe that youth voice isn’t just about listening, it’s about acting. That means creating real opportunities for young people to steer projects, make decisions, and even shape the direction of national conversations about the arts.

Young people here have played a leading role in steering major projects including Future Leaders, the Youth Bloco, our mentoring and training programmes, and our environmental and sustainability initiatives. They’ve also represented The Vale in bigger arenas — working with funders such as Youth Music and Arts Council England to help shape their funding priorities and decide where investment should be made in youth arts nationally.

Many of the young people who first joined our Steering Group have since gone on to sit on boards with leading organisations across the country, or even become trustees or non-executive directors with The Vale and Global Grooves. This shows just how far your voice can reach.

But youth voice here isn’t only about meetings and decisions. We also bring in inspiration and opportunities from our international network of performers, artists, leaders and partners, giving you the chance to explore new ideas, ask big questions, and shape your own creative journey.

“Being part of the Youth Steering Group made me realise my ideas really matter. It gave me confidence to speak up — not just here, but everywhere.”
— Young Steering Group member

The Vale is somewhere that listens, supports and learns from young people. We want to hear from you – whether you’ve got ideas for projects, thoughts on how the building runs, or just want to help shape what happens next.

👉 Interested in getting involved? Fill out the form below to express your interest in the Youth Steering Group.