Youth Focus: North East

19/10/2026

Amplify is a national 5 year project that aims to build an inclusive and equitable approach to youth voice and youth engagement. The project has a particular focus on ensuring the most marginalised and under-represented ARE represented and their thoughts are acted upon.

Year 1 of Amplify has looked at youth voices in the North East, London, South West and Yorkshire and Humber. Peer Researchers from the North East have conducted focus groups with young people across the region to find out what they think about youth voice opportunities in their area. They also explored the barriers of engaging in youth voice opportunities, and what matters most to them when meaningfully taking part in youth voice opportunities.

During the seminar, you will have the opportunity to gain experience and knowledge from Peer Researchers, Professionals who will join alongside you and gain access to our multiple resources made based on our findings.

This seminar explores what young people from the North East think about youth voice opportunities and what they would like to see.

17/10/2026

🎃👻 **FREE HALF-TERM FAMILY FUN IN CHESTER-LE-STREET!** ☕🕷️

We're opening the doors of **Focus Coffee House** for our **Family Get Involved Day** – with a little Halloween twist!

📅 **Thursday 29 October**
⏰ **10am–2pm**
📍 **Focus Coffee House, 9 South Burns, Chester-le-Street**

Come along for:

🎃 Halloween-themed creative activities
🎲 Family games & fun
👻 A few spooky surprises
💡 Our **“Shape Your Coffee House” challenge**
🙌 Skills & volunteering tasters for young people
☕ Food & refreshments
🤝 A chance to meet other local families

And most importantly... **we want YOUR ideas!**

What would you and your young people like to see happening at Focus Coffee House? Activities? Creative sessions? Skills? Youth events? Wellbeing sessions? Something completely different?

Come and tell us! 💬

The day is **completely FREE** and all about bringing families together, having some half-term fun and giving local young people and families a real say in what happens here.

🎃 Costumes welcome – but definitely not compulsory!

☕ **Come along. Get involved. Help shape your Coffee House.**

16/10/2026

Through our work with Durham County Council as part of the Local Transformation Find, we are now able to offer a Fully Funded Level 3 Certificate in Youth Work Practice.

This opportunity is Free for anyone working with Young People in the Durham area.

Please scan the QR code or follow the link in to find the application form.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeerJokfCoyjRk7iFflQ5f60On6ldDGgZIQJ71nZnzkCd8qtw/viewform

16/10/2026

Here at Engage Training and Consultancy Centre, we have been taking on board the comments made by learners during the evaluation stage of our Level 2 and Level 3 in Youth Work Qualifications.

With this in mind, we have developed a 12 month Continuous Professional Development calendar to support the youth work sector.

With these three being the first of the series!
These training packages are open to both existing and emerging youth workers, volunteers and those interested in exploring a role in working with young people.

If you are interested in any of the courses below, please scan the QR code or follow the link to the eventbrite booking page!
For more information, please contact: [email protected]

15/10/2026

14/10/2026

Through our work with Durham County Council as part of the Local Transformation programme, we are now able to offer a Fully Funded Level 3 Certificate in Youth Work Practice.

This opportunity is Free for anyone working with Young People in the Durham area.

Please scan the QR code or follow the link in to find the application form.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeerJokfCoyjRk7iFflQ5f60On6ldDGgZIQJ71nZnzkCd8qtw/viewform

14/10/2026

The North East Youth Alliance over September and October have held two Youth Voice meetings in the North and the South Region. A range of professionals from across the sector came together to discuss what youth voice is delivered in their areas, if they don’t deliver youth voice and what are the barriers for them to successfully implement this. We also spent some time hearing about the NEYA’s most recent survey, focussing on the findings from this and collectively coming together to see what we need to do to ensure youth voice across the region is inclusive, influential and consistent. As a team we are now going to be focussing on some of the priorities identified by the attendees of these sessions and start implementing these across the region. Keep your eyes peeled for further training, networking and developments in terms of youth voice.

The quote below was discussed at the meetings – tell us your thoughts we would love to hear them?

14/10/2026

ART COMPETITION for 11-25's

Your last day to submit work will be the 13th of November!

What represents you as a young person in the North East?

Get creative and show us what the North East means to you! We want to see your ideas and favourite things brought to life through art.

Your artwork could show:

What makes you happy
A happy memory you have from the North East
Your favourite landmark or place in the North East
Something that makes you proud to be a young person from the North East
What makes the North East special to you
You can draw, paint, design or create your artwork in any style you choose. We want to see your creativity and what the North East looks like through your eyes. Grab your pencils, paints, pens or whatever you love creating with and get involved. Your artwork could be our winning entry! LET YOUR CREATIVITY SHINE!

When sending your information please ensure you leave your information and that you consent to your artwork being used.

We have a strict anti-discrimination policy so no hate speech and this art must be appropriate.