About the Town’s Creative Minds: Designed by Young People, For Young People

At About the Town, we’ve spent the past few months watching something incredible unfold, a youth project not designed by adults, but created and shaped entirely by young people themselves.

Our Creative Minds programme began with a simple idea: to give young people the freedom to explore issues that matter to them, using creativity as the vehicle for self-expression, learning, and change. The group of eight local young people, aged 14–15, many of whom first came to us through a Clive Grunshaw youth project we ran in 2024, developed the idea for ‘Creative Minds’ during a planning session. Their passion and purpose helped us successfully secure £2,000 in funding from Lancashire County Council to bring it to life. 

Over 24 sessions, the group has taken full ownership of their journey. They’ve chosen to focus on antisocial behaviour and youth crime, exploring these complex topics through art, research, and discussion. Their goal has been to understand the causes, challenge stereotypes, and use creativity to raise awareness and inspire change within our community.

But they didn’t stop there. The young people also wanted the project to prepare them for life beyond school, building skills and confidence they can take into college, work, and adulthood. They invited local organisations to get involved, including West Lancashire Borough Council’s NEST Team, who delivered inspiring sessions that the group requested to help them gain practical life skills and job readiness.

To celebrate everything they’ve achieved, we’ll be hosting the ‘Creative Minds Showcase’ on Saturday, 13th December at About the Town Central between 12pm–3pm. Everyone is invited to come along, see the artwork and research on display, and enjoy a free drink as we shine a spotlight on the brilliant minds behind the project.

Join us in celebrating creativity, confidence, and community,  and the young people proving that when you give them the tools, they’ll design their own future.