Celebrating and dreaming together as young people

Since early 2026, youth organising in Totnes has been growing in a new way. In March, the Transition Together film “In The Making” - created by youth organisers in England and Wales, sharing stories of young folks engaged in change-making was screened at a youth-led, intergenerational event at the Totnes Civic Hall. Since then, the conversation has continued with us young people continuing to meet, dream and explore the change we want to see and be a part of in Totnes as young people, launching off the platform that the youth festival and screening created.

Being part of this youth-led festival at The Glade in Northwoods last month brought a truly wholesome, electric energy to every aspect of what makes a good time a good time. From workshops, sauna ceremonies and live music, to yoga and sound baths, there was plenty of space to have fun, connect and unwind. We also exhibited the art work made three days earlier at the Creative Consultation we held at Contact Darkroom, where we explored creatively in response to our questions about, and longings for, change as young people in Totnes.

Alongside this, the festival created space for meaningful conversation through an Assembly where we got in groups and talked openly about the challenges we face and the resources and spaces we need to feel happy, healthy and supported in today's time. As we know, across society, young people are underheard and undervalued, and our role in uplifting one another’s voices and needs is so fundamental to the kind of shifts needed for greater collective wellbeing and justice.

People travelled from Totnes, Plymouth and as far as Norwich to join the conversation nestled in the beautiful haven of Northwoods. What struck me most was how much we were all on the same page, there was a shared desire for greater connection, community and spaces for young people both in Totnes and on a wider scale, to other communities that need it too. 

We spent time sharing food and connecting ~ Photo credit: @gallery.isabel on Instagram

One young person who attended the event shared afterwards: “Honestly, so glad I came, I was thinking about staying home and vegetating in front of the telly. But I'm so glad I came out and spent the whole day in the woods and meeting other young people. Felt like the pace of the day was just right, didn't feel like a rush or too slow. I loved the sound bath in particular! Can't wait to attend more events like this.”

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Whittling circle around the fire in the afternoon ~ Photo credit: sbj_visuals on Instagram

With the support of local and national organisations we were able to bring our visions into reality in early August. Huge shout out to Circlewise, Transition Town Totnes, Assemble Totnes, Contact Darkroom, Sovereign Network Group, the Totnes Trust and the Somewhere Sauna. Not to mention, the incredible, intergenerational crew of volunteers, musicians, cooks and artists, as well as the place itself, Northwoods and the Glade, for holding us through this beautiful day.

After watching folk duo Hidden Coves perform that Saturday evening, while leaving the Glade, I left with a real sense of momentum and possibility that this kind of events and these conversations could be the beginning of creating dedicated third spaces for young people here, shaped by young people themselves. And what is a third space you might ask? While our first space is at home, our second is in school or work, third spaces are those anchor places where we come together as a community and can feel a wider sense of belonging to the place we live.

Leaning into the momentum and possibility of this moment, in order to create this ongoing dedicated space for young people, we are going to need our wider community's help as always! Our freshly sprung project “Street Dreams” has us on a mission to raise the funds to create a third-space for young people that has longevity; something that nourishes both those who attend the space, and those who co-create it, paying young organisers for their time, and equipping the project with the resources it needs to support young people to flourish and thrive.

Following the success of the festival, to support the fundraising efforts for this youth-led organising to continue in the area, we hosted a fundraiser at the Totnes United Free Church a few weeks later. Bringing together musicians, chefs, volunteers and intergenerational community members, plus the epic support of local businesses (the raffle was immense) we were able to co-create such a rich and warm environment. And we raised £460! 

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Image courtesy of David Barrett

If you want to find out more about Street Dreams and support our ongoing fundraising efforts, visit our Go Fund Me via: tinyurl.com/streetdreamsfundraiser 

And if you’d like to get involved in the work of Street Dreams, reach out to us on instagram or email Callum via cjcartwright20@gmail.com .

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