During EFL Week of Action 2025, the Tigers Trust are proudly showcasing the power of youth voice in shaping safer, stronger communities. In Hull, youth crime and violence continue to affect the lives of many young people. But for the past two years, the Peer Action Collective (PAC) team has been working to change that narrative.
The PAC programme provided safe, inclusive spaces where young people can come together, speak openly, and share their experiences in environments where they are genuinely heard. The initiative empowers young people to explore the root causes of issues affecting their communities and ensures their voices reach decision-makers at both local and national levels.
Previously funded by the Youth Endowment Fund, the #iwill Fund (a joint investment from The National Lottery Community Fund and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport), and the Co-op, PAC supports young people in leading meaningful change.
At Tigers Trust, our PAC team included four passionate young individuals who live in or are connected to Hull. Their work begins with research, gathering insights through interviews and focus groups and evolves them into social action, where findings and recommendations are presented to local stakeholders.
The first research project, Addressing Barriers to Positive Activities, engaged 77 young people across Yorkshire through one-on-one interviews and interactive focus groups. A clear theme emerged: young people want their voices to be heard and taken seriously. When they feel ignored, it can lead to frustration, disengagement, and even anti social behaviour.
In response, the Trust launched a Youth Voice group, a structured platform for meaningful participation. The group offers young people a safe space to express their views, influence decisions, and advocate for change. We also developed a comprehensive toolkit to help other organisations establish their own Youth Voice groups, sharing best practices and lessons learned.
Our second project, Creating Safer Spaces, built on the insights from the first. Many young people told us they lacked safe places to spend time, which sometimes led to involvement in antisocial behaviour. In response, we created a Youth Room - a welcoming, supervised space where young people can escape negative influences and feel supported. Once again, we developed a practical toolkit to help others design youth-led safe spaces, focusing on key elements such as trusted adults, clear rules, structure, and engaging activities.
We’ve shared our findings at several stakeholder events, including one hosted at the Tigers Trust Arena. Our work has strengthened partnerships with the Humber Violence Prevention Partnership (VPP), and in March, two of our Peer Researchers presented at the Violence Reduction Unit Director’s Event. Their presentation was met with enthusiasm and led to an invitation to speak at the Humber VPP annual conference in June, where they addressed over 200 professionals, policymakers, and community leaders.
We also welcomed Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner Jonathan Evison, who expressed strong interest in our research and social action. Discussions focused on the urgent need for more safe spaces and the critical role of youth voice in shaping them.
Sharing our work with these audiences has been a major success for the programme. It has empowered young people to advocate for their peers and influence the issues that matter most to them.
A huge well done for all involved!
Share this post: