In its third year, the Sutton Youth Summit provides an opportunity for young people across the borough to find out about services they can access, get to know other young people and get their voices heard. It always celebrates the importance of young people in our Borough of Sutton and this year was particularly related, as our theme was Celebrating Sutton’s Diversity.

Building on the success of last year, we knew we had to bring the popular Antonino’s pizza back and try to get a bigger space to accommodate the interest and wow did you all turn up! 100s came through in the three hours it was on! Our event was kindly hosted by the new Unity Junction (Duffus Community Foundation) providing our chill out, eating and stage zone, and we had permission to use the St Nicholas Centre market space for our exhibitors. We handed out pocket guides and stickers to help others show their support of an inclusive borough and everyone got a sticker. If you missed out you can still pick up one from Volunteer Centre Sutton.

Thumbs up all round for the food including:

• An unending supply of Antonino’s pizza including gluten free options this year
• homebaked cupcakes from Free Cakes For Kids Sutton charity
• cultural snacks from Hong Kong, Eastern Europe, France, Britain and India.

There were over 23 organisations keen to exhibit and showcase the diversity in our borough (and that it was also World Mental Health Day, World Inclusion Day and Black History month):

• Innovation Unit
• Be Inspired and their new LGBTQ+ Youth Group
• Sutton LGBTQ+ Forum
• Free2Be
• Sutton Music Trust
• SIASS
• Sutton Community Dance
• SACCO
• Advocacy for All
• The Fantastic Freddie Foundation
• Volunteer Centre Sutton (under 18 volunteering & Young Commissioners, Youth Board, MAPS, Together for Sutton)
• Sutton Council's Vaping Campaign created by young people
• Sutton Family Hubs & representing Champz Youth Zone
• Sutton Young Carers (Sutton Carers Centre)
• Council Voice and Influence of Children and Young People & representing Sutton Information Hub
• School Nurse Team
• Education Wellbeing Service (CAMHS)
• Kooth
• Sutton Community Works
• People Arise Now
• TimeOut Youth Project
• The Police Cadets
• 219 Sutton & Cheam Squadron ATC

Activities included:

• henna painting
• temporary tattoos
• a dress up photo area
• poetry gallery to read and find poets to perform live for you
• games
• sharing views on Celebrating Sutton's Diversity at the creative table
• local community artist ArttCaro joined us to make a big collaboration collage
• stalls had activities too such as a lucky dip and ways to get young voices heard by decision makers (many of whom were there including the CEO of the council, Leader of the council, Mayor and more!).

This year we added performances and more music to give a party vibe.

Performances included:

• K-pop dance both on the High Street and inside by Sutton Community Dance
• Drumming by Lucas, an RAF cadet from 219 Sutton & Cheam Squadron ATC
• Singing from a musical by Esther, discovered through SACCO, linking to Black History Month
• Carnatic music (classical Indian singing) by Sahana, a Young Commissioner and her group
• Short talks including from the Mayor and Adrian from Sutton’s newest DJ academy 0181 Studios see some here.

What others said about it:

Cllr Barry Lewis and the council article from Sutton Scene

Sutton Carer's Centre said "With an amazing turnout, the event was a true celebration of diversity, inclusion, and community spirit. The day was packed with valuable insights, lively dancing, and plenty of pizza to keep the energy flowing." See their article here.

ArttCaro said "It fills me with pain when I see the rising statistics of violent crime and hate among our future. The next generation carries culture, compassion, laughter, art, curiosity, love - everything that makes a society a society and makes us human . We are no one without our youth, and we are less if we don't support them. The work you all do means that more young people can be steered away from lives of hate and violence, and steered toward lives of compassion. Fulfilling lives which are not plagued with interactions that are simply transactional. 

We very grateful to those who made this event possible:

• Space by Duffus Community Foundation and St Nicholas Centre
• Sponsors Socius and Innovation Unit
• Volunteer photographers Peter Struik and Arup Das
• Cupcakes baked for us by Free Cakes For Kids Sutton charity
• Photo props from Community Champions
• Tech from Sutton Community Dance
• Donated prizes by OruSpace, Throwley Yard, Family Fun Zone, The Sound Lounge, Antonino's Pizza, Sutton Community Dance. Prize winners will be announced soon.
• All the organisations, activities, performers and our amazing volunteers, including the Young Commissioners!

Without you this event could not have happened. We look forward to next year and will be excited to share a video of the event soon.

Are you a young person interested in getting your voice heard? Click here to learn more about our Youth boards and Young Commissioners.

Comments from the Young Commissioners who attended:

"I found it very enriching as it helped me know more about our youth in sutton and find out different experiences that young people can do." -  Eleanor

"The Youth Summit was an amazing event where it was wonderful to see people of all ages and backgrounds engaging in all that was going on. My highlight was seeing all the singing and dance performances which many young people showcased and you could tell how much work had been put in to prepare. Of course, the delicious pizza and other treats should not go unmentioned!" - Aaminah

"The event was a lovely opportunity to talk to other organisations and learn about the amazing work they do! It was so nice to see so many people come along to watch the performances and walk around stalls!" - Navani

"It was a lovely meeting lots of different organisations and learning about the important roles they have in improving the lives of young people. The food was fantastic and the Volunteer Centre and Young Commissioners did an amazing job to make the afternoon a success" - Joseph