Hi, we are the Horizon Youth Zone YPDG!
What is a YPDG, I hear you ask? Well, let us tell you…
YPDG stands for Young People’s Development Group! We are a group of young people that represent young people from different backgrounds in Grimsby aged 13-18, as we create a new Youth Zone.
We come together every week to volunteer and use our voices to make important decisions on the design, build and set up of Grimsby’s new Horizon Youth Zone. We help and support our community by creating an amazing and safe space for young people.
Our YPDG shapes the Youth Zone by bringing people together, giving them a voice and input on all the big decisions. This includes naming the Youth Zone, creating the branding and design and even helping choose who will be working in there.
We have all joined the group for lots of different reasons, like meeting new people and making friends, getting involved in our communities, or wanting a safe space to share our opinions, experiences and thoughts! Being part of the Young People’s Development Group means we get to try new things, step out of our comfort zones and grow – as well as help our community and champion our amazing new Youth Zone!
As a group we have already had many exciting experiences. Some of our favourites include a ferry ride along the Thames, watching Sister Act at the theatre, going bowling and for food at Christmas and meeting Americans when they visited as part of an exchange trip! As a group, one of our favourite things to do is interview new candidates and take parts in discussions and debates on our debate nights – as well as eating pizza and snacks!
We have also been able to visit lots of different places, including America, London, the Lake District and many of the Youth Zones across the OnSide network.
When our Horizon Youth Zone opens, we are really excited to walk through the doors for the first time and see what our ideas and hard work have created. We know it will have a huge impact on Grimsby’s young people and our community. We look forward to making new friends and taking part in all of the amazing activities like playing football, cooking food, making music and the performing arts. We especially can’t wait to beat Steve on the climbing wall!
We hope you have enjoyed our first blog of 2025! As we get closer to opening, we will continue to share our ideas and opinions with the team and make decisions for the benefit of Grimsby’s young people.
Please come and join us on our journey as we head towards the opening of the Youth Zone later this year and watch all of the amazing adventures we take on. You may even feel like you want to join us!
See you soon,
Horizon YPDG