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Shaping the Future of Youth Support in East Riding
There is a real sense of momentum building across the youth sector in East Riding, and it is coming from the people who know it best.
The recent Space Between Us co-production workshop formed part of the first East Riding-wide youth conference in over a decade. It brought together a wide range of voices from across the VCSE sector & Statutory partners creating a much-needed space to reflect, connect and start shaping what comes next for young people’s services.
What We Heard
The message from the session was clear. There is a strong appetite to work differently and more collaboratively as a sector.
Across discussions and feedback, several key themes emerged:
- A need for stronger collaboration, with better coordination and less duplication
- A desire for a more unified voice to influence funding, priorities and decision-making
- The importance of safe and trusted spaces to build relationships and share openly
- Recognition of capacity pressures and the need for flexible, proportionate approaches
- A clear call for purpose, ensuring any network leads to action and meaningful outcomes
There was also a shared view that any future network should be inclusive, locally grounded and mindful of the realities organisations are facing day to day.
Moving Towards a Shared Approach
Rather than landing on a single fixed model, the feedback points towards something more flexible and evolving.
What emerged was the idea of a phased approach:
- Starting with safe, collaborative spaces to build trust
- Developing into stronger coordination and shared working
- Growing into a more influential and unified voice over time
While some participants favoured a consultancy-style model, this was less about structure and more about impact. The priority is clear – creating something that genuinely strengthens the sector’s voice and influence.
Help Shape What Comes Next
This is just the beginning. It is important that this work reflects the full diversity of the VCSE sector across East Riding, including those who were not able to attend the workshop or the wider conference.
We are inviting organisations to take a few minutes to share their views through a short survey.
This will help:
- Refine the proposed approach
- Understand what will work in practice
- Ensure all voices are represented
In particular, we want to hear from smaller organisations, grassroots groups, and those working in rural or less represented communities.
Click here to complete feedback
Why This Matters
This is about more than creating another network. It is about building something meaningful, shaped by the sector, for the sector.
A stronger, more connected youth sector means:
- Better support for young people
- More effective use of resources
- A louder, collective voice in shaping local priorities
What Happens Next
The next phase will focus on:
- Gathering wider feedback
- Sharing what we have heard
- Co-designing a phased network approach
- Aligning with the wider needs assessment and system priorities
