Halton Youth Cabinet Supports Launch of Halton Brook Litter Network with Community Action Day

Halton Youth Cabinet was proud to support the launch of the Halton Brook Litter Network at Halton Brook Community Centre, joining local partners and community members for a day dedicated to environmental action and community pride.

The event celebrated ongoing efforts to tackle litter and promote a cleaner, greener environment. Halton Youth Cabinet was honoured to receive a certificate recognising its work on the Binimals initiative, highlighting the positive impact of youth-led environmental engagement.

Following the launch, participants took part in a community litter pick, working together to make a tangible difference in the local area. The group collected an impressive 82 bags of litter, demonstrating the power of collective action and community spirit.

The day showcased the importance of collaboration, with organisations and young people coming together to take pride in their surroundings and contribute to a cleaner future.

Halton Youth Cabinet is committed to continuing its work in supporting environmental initiatives and empowering young people to make a positive impact in their communities.

Local Young People Represent Their Communities at UK Youth Parliament in House of Commons

On Friday, 28th February, young representatives from across the UK gathered at the annual UK Youth Parliament, where over 400 Youth MPs came together to discuss pressing issues and vote on campaigns for the upcoming year. 

Among the speakers were Fin from Halton and Vin from St Helens , both of whom were selected to contribute to the important debate on transport—a significant achievement and a testament to their dedication to youth advocacy. 

Finlay Venables, Member of Youth Parliament (MYP) for Halton, aged 14, reflected on the experience, stating: 
“Visiting the House of Commons and the Chamber was an unforgettable experience that will be ingrained in my mind forever. It was amazing for all the young people to be in those rooms of decision-making, as we are the decision-makers of the future.” 

Helen McGorrin, Senior Youth Worker at Vibe UK, shared her pride in Fin’s accomplishment: 
“It has been a privilege for us to support Fin on his journey to the House of Commons. He spoke so clearly and passionately on behalf of his constituency, and we are all very proud.” 

The UK Youth Parliament provides young people with a platform to voice their concerns and influence real change on issues that affect their lives. 

Vibe UK runs a number of youth voice programmes, empowering young people to lead and take action on the issues that matter to them. From #FeedTheNeed, a youth-led activist movement tackling food poverty in St Helens, to campaigns on mental health and wellbeing, disability rights, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and the cost of living crisis, Vibe UK is committed to ensuring young people’s voices drive meaningful change. 

Vibe UK remains dedicated to supporting young people in Halton, St Helens, Liverpool, and beyond, ensuring they are heard at the highest levels of decision-making. 

Young people from Liverpool join nationwide youth and democracy network

Young people from Liverpool have joined the first workshop of a new nationwide youth network to re-imagine the future of democracy.

Four young people representing Vibe UK have joined over 30 of their peers from across the UK to work with the Windsor-based education charity Cumberland Lodge as part of its flagship Youth & Democracy project.

Over the course of the weekend (8-10 November), the attendees aged 15-20 enjoyed sessions run by the charity as well as guest organisations including USA-based Braver Angels, and the Institute for Strategic Dialogue.

They have all previously attended focus groups run by the charity in regions across the country, including Liverpool, Belfast, Birmingham, Cornwall, and Edinburgh.

Their conversations inform a new report from Cumberland Lodge, Rising Voices: Youth Perspectives on Political Engagement, published this week, which makes recommendations for how to increase young people’s political participation.

The Youth & Democracy network is designed to build young people’s confidence in critical thinking, community engagement, and communication skills, and to enable them to connect with peers from different regions.

Our aim is for young people to be able to take the skills they develop back into their communities, to engage in democratic practices and promote political participation.

Rebecca Seeley, Youth Worker with Vibe UK, said of the workshop:

“I think they really enjoyed it and they found it very beneficial. Before it started, they were a bit nervous, but now they've got skills they were never expecting. I hope that they can take away that they can do anything. Even starting small, small is not bad, it will grow.”

Munny Purba, Programme Officer at Cumberland Lodge and author of the Rising Voices report, said:

“Including young voices in conversations about democracy is essential. They bring fresh perspectives and a deep understanding of the issues facing their communities, yet are too often left out of these discussions.

By equipping young people with a toolkit of skills in constructive dialogue, critical thinking, and community engagement, we hope they can adapt these tools to fit their unique contexts.

This approach goes beyond political engagement; it’s about nurturing a generation that values empathy, resilience, and collaboration in the face of complex social challenges in an increasingly polarised world.”

A copy of the report can be downloaded here: Rising Voices: Youth Perspectives on Political Engagement - Report - Cumberland Lodge

Cumberland Lodge is an educational charity and social enterprise that exists to empower young people to lead the conversation around social division, providing them with the skills, perspective and confidence to question, challenge and understand some of the most complex social issues of our time.