Listening to young people

The event was the result of partnership between the De La Warr Pavilion's education team, the Bexhill Youth Council, and the Bexhill Young People's Services (BYPS).

The Pavilion's Polly Gifford said: This day is all about making contact with young people and trying out different activities".

One activity was making a 3D map of Bexhill from the perspective of youngsters.

Said Polly: "As well as including the things that were actually there, we asked them to include one building that doesn't currently exist but they would like to see in Bexhill.

"One group came up with an entertainments pier, another came up with a cinema, and one had a shopping mall kind of idea, multi-use with leisure, shopping and places for people to go."

The youth forum also included sports, drama, and a Bexhill Young People's Council Quiz, as well as a campaign session, and a different spin on Dragon's Den with the chance to design a dream project and pitch it in front of a discerning panel.

Polly said: "I definitely think it has been worthwhile in terms of three organisations collaborating and I think it has given opportunity to young people to give their views in quite a creative way.

She said the event would be followed up by two more youth forums, with the project receiving financial support form the local network fund "which has been fantastic".

"This is not just young people telling us what they think, which has happened before, but about having an actual outcome, so young people could feel that coming to share their views for a day could have some impact. We are all committed long-term to developing ideas with young people."

Pictured: Youth Council members on the beach.