The Norfolk Youth Summit

The Norfolk Youth Summit is a unique event which aims to bring together young people from across the county in a series of talks and discussions. 

The Norfolk Youth Summit is a pupil-led initiative developed to give young people across the region a forum to discuss the important issues affecting them. In 2021 the chosen themes were Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Climate Change and Mental Health and Wellbeing. 

Pupils in Year 10 and Year 12 from Norwich School, Aylsham High School, Wymondham College, Flegg Academy, Ormiston Victory Academy, Langley School, Gresham's School and Norwich High School for Girls, joined virtual meetings with industry experts in each field and were given the opportunity to write a youth manifesto to take back to their schools. 

Led by author and Norwich School Head of Creative Writing, Eleanor Wasserberg, the first session focused on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Working in small discussion groups, the young pupils were tasked with contributing lines to a poem which would act as a statement for Norfolk's Youth. 

The Climate Crisis was the topic of discussion at the Norfolk Youth Summit in April. Pupils were joined by Dr Simon Butler, senior lecturer in Biology and Ecology at UEA, and agreed actions to take back to their own schools.

In May Clinical Psychologist Nic Yeates lead discussions on Mental Health for young people, focussing on how summit members could start positive interventions in their schools and communities to support wellbeing. 

Head of School and Senior Prefect formed the Norfolk Youth Summit in response to current events and a desire to bring together and offer a forum for other young people to express their views, learn about youth activism and work together to bring about positive change.