By youth, for youth: Nottingham celebrates 25 years of International Youth Day

Youth is a word synonymous with visions of the future; a pool of opportunity, creativity, and growth. That sense of promise is exactly what Nottingham City of Literature’s Youth Board brought to life during their brilliant pop-up event in Victoria Centre last Saturday, celebrating 25 years of International Youth Day. The event possessed a lively, friendly atmosphere, not about polished displays but about making opportunities for young people and encouraging them to experiment with their creativity. On offer were a host of different activities which both the young and not-so-young could get involved in.

One of my favourite activities at the event was the marble run challenge. It encouraged you to use problem-solving skills to design a working track using nothing more than recycled cardboard and tubes. The activity turned out to be surprisingly addictive, and I kept wanting to improve my design! Unfortunately, my engineering skills weren’t quite good enough to beat the challenge though. There were also plenty of messy activities on offer, including painting and a table for scrapbooking, which even featured some old copies of LeftLion that had been quite thoughtfully cut up and reimagined by some young creatives. What I really loved about the event was the theme of reuse and repurpose, which seemed to underline everything, showing how creativity can give something old a second life, whilst also carrying a message about how the environment can go hand in hand with creative mindfulness.

Around the room, there were also plenty of showcase walls displaying poetry and short stories created by the city’s youth. The pieces were fantastic, exploring themes ranging from the challenges of growing up to the juxtapositions nature imposes. There were even opportunities to write your own literary masterpiece, which you could add to some of the walls whilst you were at the event. There was also a cosy corner where you could take your free book handout and enjoy a quiet read. I even spotted a tired parent or two making the most of it with a well-earned nap.

The pop-up wasn’t just about creating but also about connecting, with the Youth Board highlighting ways to get involved in the city's vibrant literary scene. Annie Cross, the Youth Board’s chair, shared that she first discovered the Youth Board when attending International Youth Day herself three years ago, and that she hopes the event will inspire new members to join the Youth Board and get more involved with literature.

The event, designed by young people for young people, created a lively, welcoming space celebrating creativity and individuality, which was a joy to be a part of.