Young People Lead the Way on Youth Safety Across Westminster

In early July, young people from schools across Westminster came together to lead a powerful youth assembly on safety in their communities - part of a nationwide day of action with Citizens UK. The event, held at St Augustine’s CE High School, was the culmination of months of listening, workshops, and 1:1s led by young people and supported by AllChild, Citizens UK, and Westminster College.

The campaign began with students at Westminster College sharing their experiences of safety on campus. Recognising the importance of these voices, AllChild partnered with Citizens UK to expand the listening campaign to three more Westminster schools: Paddington Academy, Pimlico Academy, and St Augustine’s. Together, supported by AllChild Link Workers, young people spoke with over 400 of their peers about what safety and opportunity mean to them.

The youth-led event at St Augustine’s created a unique space for young people to share their stories with MPs, councillors, community leaders, charities, and one another. The day began with a presentation of the campaign so far, followed by small group workshops exploring the key issues that had emerged.

Young people spoke courageously about the realities they face, from physical violence and unsafe public spaces to online bullying, discrimination, and a lack of safe opportunities. One young person described the anxiety of walking home after people attacked. Another shared about being targeted and harassed online and how this had impacted their sense of safety and trust.

Georgia Gould, MP and Leader of Camden Council, attended the assembly and took time to listen closely to the young people. She shared her reflections, saying: “Everyone needs to be involved in keeping young people safe.”

The event aimed to:

• Strengthen networks across Westminster - linking schools, community groups, local government, and charities.

• Create a youth-led space for honest conversations about safety.

• Build momentum for a larger, long-term campaign focused on safety and opportunity for young people.

• Encourage all attendees to play an active role in making change.

This was one of 10 youth assemblies taking place simultaneously across Citizens UK chapters around the country, each offering a platform for young people to engage directly with their local MPs and decision-makers.

Looking ahead, the campaign team will launch a larger listening campaign in the next academic year, aiming to engage even more young people in shaping a safer, more inclusive future.

A huge thank you to all the young leaders, Link Workers, school staff, and partners who made this day happen. This is just the beginning.

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