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Future of the Region

Future of the Region

Right across the region of South West Wales there are people, businesses, organisations inspiring the next generation to be the best they can be.

There are so many opportunities for young people but do they know what’s available to them? How can we work together to make sure that every young person in our region realises the possibilities for them here in South West Wales?

We invited businesses and organisations across the region to share their work in the youth sector, the challenges faced and the opportunities we have. The goal was to share perspective and uncover how we can co-create solutions so that every young person is empowered. 

Click here to download the full event report.

EVENT RECORDING

Thematic Priorities

Why is this conversation important to you?

  • The importance of helping young people to build skills, especially from underrepresented groups.
  • The future is uncertain and the challenges may be unfathomable to us. How can we build the resilience of young people?
  • We need to be better connected and collaborate in order to help young people to figure out what’s next. 
  • Developing an entrepreneurial mindset from a primary school age can be important to get children thinking outside the box.
  • Empowering them to express themselves, use their voices and help shape the future of their communities. 
  • We need to support and champion what young people themselves want to do. What small interventions can we make to enable them to lead the stuff that they want to do?
  • Enabling young people to see what’s out there.
  • There’s a need for connection and positive role models.
  • We’d like to retain the talent of our young people in the region.
  • We need to look at bridging the gap between what we’re hearing from young people and how we can involve the private sector to try and help as much as possible.
  • Transport issues can prevent young people from accessing opportunities and projects that could otherwise help them.

What would you love to see?

  • There seems to not be a one central point to find out what’s going on.
  • We need to ensure that young people are part of the process and encourage co-creation.
  • We need young people voices in this sphere and to co-create solutions.
  • We need to be led by them and not place the burden on them.
  • A monthly bulletin/newsletter for people working in young people space. There could be a 4theRegion newsletter specifically for youth projects.
  • Contact Swansea Council to see if they would collaborate on their monthly newsletter that goes to headteachers.
  • Use the 4theRegion website as a place to host a youth project directory.
  • Alternatively, use 4theRegion as a signpost to a dedicated website.
  • Create a digital space to connect and share ideas.
  • Dedicated Discord or Slack server, or a Facebook group.
  • Keeping a dedicated space would be a monumental task to ensure it’s up to date and correct.
  • Even if we did have the platform, it’s about understanding about how we turn it into how can we support people? How do we collectively do this?
  • Podcasts to showcase what people are doing and what they hope to be doing.
  • Quarterly meetings for networking and building relationships.
  • Meet the employee/organisation events targeted to young people.
  • An event for young people to find out what projects are available, ask questions and find out what careers are out there.
  • Employers should take advantage of schemes that help set up placements and apprenticeship.
  • Educate employers on the benefits of working with young people.
  • Having more time available to collaborate with others and build networks.
  • Connecting projects with schools. Opportunities to bring schools in and share.
  • Working with primary schools can be challenging as they’re overwhelmed from the effects of the pandemic.
  • Holistic ways to reach out to 16 – 25 year olds.
  • How do we ensure that we’re also reaching disconnected and underrepresented groups of young people?

NEXT STEPS

With so much to discuss, we are keen to keep this conversation going. Join us on the 14th December 2022 at 10am for the next Future of the Region Event!

Sign up for free via Eventbrite here.

And if you are working in this space, have a project in mind, have information or updates to share, or would like to fund or support regional initiatives relating to youth projects, please reach out to us so we can connect, amplify and collaborate! Contact zoe@4theregion.org.uk.