Ledbury Listening
In 2024 the Point of View (P.O.V.) programme took on an ambitious mission to amplify the voices of young people in and around Ledbury, Herefordshire. Through Ledbury Listening, we engaged hundreds of young people, uncovering their experiences, ambitions, and ideas to help shape the town’s future. This collaborative project - which would not have been possible without the shared passion, committment and funding support of Talk Community, LEAF, LIAS, John Masefield High School, Ledbury Rugby, Ledbury Poetry, Bosbury Primary, Ledbury Community Hub. and The CLD Trust - sparked meaningful connections between young people and local decision-makers, demonstrating the power of creativity and consultation in embedding youth voices into community plans and local decision-making.
What We Did
To reach as many people as we could, Ledbury Listening devised and launched a short online survey, distributed through schools and promoted on posters. The survey captured the thoughts of over 640 young people aged 9-18. Questions focused on young people’s views of the town, their hobbies, safety, future ambitions, and their role in influencing local decisions. The survey results are available for anyone who wants to access them.
Alongside the online survey, creative consultation pop-ups were held at St Katherine’s Hall, Ledbury Rugby Club, and Ledbury Poetry’s Poetry House, which engaged almost 70 young people in conversations, drawing, and creative writing. These events were supported by P.O.V. Producers group who honed their interviewing and photography skills, documenting the lived experiences of their peers.
All of this culminated in a successful youth-led sharing event which we called Ledbury, Are You Listening?. A panel of young people, who’d spent the summer analysing the consultation results, hosted the day, and we launched the Ledbury Listening report which includes 10 recommendations for change. The event also featured performances from Courtyard Youth Theatre and Ledbury Poetry Word Crew, who creatively responded to the survey data, alongside youth-led Q&As with local councillors, culture leaders, and youth workers. The participation of key figures, such as Dr Ellie Chowns MP and Dr John Holmes, headteacher of John Masefield High School, highlighted the community’s commitment to listening to young voices.
So What Happens Next? We believe the impact of Ledbury Listening has been transformative. The sharing event strengthened young people's skills in advocacy and public speaking while fostering a deeper understanding within the community of the challenges and aspirations of its younger generation.
We've already seen the following:
John Masefield High School and Ledbury Town Council are working together to establish a youth council.
Ledbury Town Council has committed to considering the report’s recommendations, two of which have already been actioned. The town tyre swing – hugely popular with young people before it was broken and not replaced - is now being repaired and reinstalled; and councillors have pledged to involve young people in the town’s planning decisions.
Lots of creative outputs, including portraits of 25 young people, behind-the-scenes photos, and video testimonials, are being shared off and online, which capture the spirit and impact of the creative consultation.
The insights gathered through Ledbury Listening provide a clear roadmap for integrating youth views into local decision-making. This work - which was only possible in collaboration with Talk Community; the CLD Trust; Ledbury Town Council; Ledbury Poetry; LEAF; LYAS; Ledbury Rugby Club; John Masefield High School; local primary schools - also demonstrated the value of creativity in engaging diverse young people from various socio-economic, ethnic, and heritage backgrounds. By facilitating dialogue and collaboration, it can inspire future youth-focused initiatives across the region.
By embedding youth voices upstream in local decision-making, Ledbury Listening is more than a project—it’s a movement. It has empowered young people to take ownership of their futures while equipping community leaders with the insights needed to create a more inclusive and responsive town.
As one young participant said: "It feels like people are finally listening to us. That’s all we ever wanted."
Let’s keep listening, Ledbury. The future depends on it!
If you would like to access the data from Ledbury Listening, including raw survey responses, please email laurenr@ruralmedia.co.uk. For more information about the youth council plans contact Kelcea Turner, Talk Community Broker at Herefordshire Council, kelcea.Turner@herefordshire.gov.uk.
