Podcast festival to help give young people a voice

A new festival in Ipswich is giving young people the chance to share their thoughts and ideas about how to improve their town. The event, which will take place at DanceEast on 7 August, is not just about having fun with music and dance, but also about listening to the voices of young people. The festival is being organized by filmmaker Sarah Tieck and poet and promoter Raph Adom. They have previously worked together on events in empty shops, focusing on men's mental health, but now they want to hear directly from young people about what Ipswich could do better for them.

Sarah Tieck, who often shares her work on her 'This is Ipswich' Instagram account, says that she and Raph do not have all the answers, but they are eager to ask young people what changes they would like to see. She wonders why some young people are not coming into the town and wants to find out what would make Ipswich more appealing to them. The festival will feature live music and dance performances, as well as a panel discussion where people aged 18 to 25 can ask questions and talk about their hopes for the town. The event will be filmed and shared on social media, so even those who cannot attend can see what happens.

Raph Adom told BBC Radio Suffolk that adults often forget what it is like to be a teenager. He said that young people sometimes just want to hang out with their friends, even if they are just sitting around on their phones. He believes that adults should not judge young people for this, but instead understand that it is a normal part of growing up. Raph wants the older generation to accept that young people need space to be themselves, even if they do not have a specific purpose for being in town.

Sarah Tieck grew up in Shotley Gate, a village near Ipswich. She remembers feeling nervous about going into town when she was younger because she did not know what was happening there. She recalls taking the bus to Ipswich for the first time at age 13, just to go to McDonald's and sit on the steps. Sarah thinks that there are many activities and events in Ipswich, but they are not well advertised, especially to people living in council estates or outside the town. She wants to make sure that everyone knows about the opportunities available to them.

There are other ways for young people in Suffolk to get involved and share their opinions. For example, the 'I Will' movement has organized hackathons for people aged 10 to 21, and there is a Suffolk Youth Parliament as well as other youth forums. East Suffolk Council also has a youth engagement program, and the group 'Chip' has run informal youth meetings. The new festival hopes to add to these efforts by giving young people a bigger platform to express themselves and help shape the future of Ipswich.