With local and general election mania spreading across Britain at the moment 20 Stories High’s Future Collective decided to grab a slice of the action.

Future Collective (formerly our Youth Advisory Group) is made up of young people from our Youth Theatre, Young Actors and Young Writers groups who have an interest in leadership, both within 20 Stories High and beyond.

In the run up to last weeks Metro Mayoral Elections, they joined other local young people and community members and met with Marvin Rees, Britain’s first directly elected black Mayor. Marvin gave a rousing speech about his approach to collaborative leadership and efforts to tackle homelessness as well as his passion for raising the aspirations of young people.

Future Collective then got their chance to grill the prospective candidates standing for Liverpool Metro Mayor with questions created alongside other local youth agencies at the hustings. The young people were seeking responses on apprenticeship wages, housing for young people and subsidised transport for young people in, and out, of education.

Following questioning, the Metro Mayoral candidates all signed a Young Person’s Manifesto and agreed to meet at least three times a year with the youth steering group post election – a group 20 Stories High’s Future Collective intend to stay active in.

Next on the agenda for Future Collective will be the She’s Leaving Home – Platform Event on 14 June 2017. The night, hosted by the group, promises to be jam-packed with debate, live music and performance in response to the themes of our next show, She’s Leaving Home, which will explore housing, homelessness and leaving home.

For more information on Future Collective, The She’s Leaving Home Platform Event and our other Participatory Programmes, email our Participation Manager: guy@20storieshigh.org.uk or call 0151 708 9728.