We reckon we could run the world– Learning Laboratory 1.

This Learning Laboratory was designed to give young people the skills and confidence to speak in an informed way about local issues, using new and traditional media. It allowed the young people to map out their towns and give them a voice through skills training in the digital Media.

This project was set up to test different forms of creative engagement with the young people identified.

Yorkshire Forward’s Renaissance Programme is a 25 year vision. The young people taking part in early 2007 will be aged between 36 and 43 by the time it comes to fruition. Some of them will become valuable Town Team* members in coming years.

Design workshops were introduced to examine the principles of good architecture and to see how building and public space of their towns was being used. Groups worked together to create small structures, which would accommodate one person for one minute without falling down set in a defined environment. Then within small groups, each structure was analysed and critiqued using the four principles; form, movement, space and use. Then the young people toured their town using a pre-planned route whilst being introduced to snippets of local history and incorporating their creative project form.

Participants split into groups of 3-4 and using large scale maps and stickers, they became urban planners. Suggestions of how to improve traffic routes and facilities were constructed and presented to 1-2 Town Team members.

Film making, recording sounds, creating puppetry plays and producing podcasts assisted the young people get their views across to their Town Teams. A different creative intervention was used for each town.

“I hope people will listen to us, do something about us and stop getting a wrong opinion of us,” a Slaithwaite & Marsden participant.

“A space for young people is important. We always get judged for wearing hoodies and things like that. Having adults on your back all the time isn’t good. We get stereotyped because we are seen on street corners. A space of our own would help us prove to adults that we’re not always what they think of us,” a Slaithwaite & Marsden participant.

The Learning Laboratory was funded by the Academy for Sustainable Communities and managed by Integreat Yorkshire.

* Town Teams are groups of people who work with their community to identify and shape projects designed to transform the place where they live.

Click here to see the videos produced - Skipton, Bluesky and Documentary.