The Legacy Youth Board, made up and led by a dedicated group of 18–25 year olds from Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest, plays a vital role in shaping the future of the area. We spoke to Kaitlene, the board’s chair, about their success so far and the challenges ahead. 

“2020 has been an unprecedented year for us all: the constraints of lockdown followed by the protests have united us all in our shared experiences. For the Legacy Youth Board, this has reinforced our commitment to continue to work, be it virtually, towards ensuring a sustainable legacy for our communities.

The Legacy Youth Board is made up and led by a dedicated group of 18-25 year olds, unified by a shared home in the host boroughs of Newham, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest and Hackney. We represent diversity in age, as well as ethnicity, gender and lived experiences, to bring an alternative perspective to the boardrooms that make crucial decisions for the future of the areas that have defined us.

After a successful pilot year, we can say that we have made some headway. In November 2019, we delivered the first Youth Conference on the Park, in partnership with the LLDC, Youth Charter and Unicef; gained Observer status for the LLDC Board, Investment, Planning and Regeneration committees and maintained a strong presence at Park Panel. Furthermore, we have fed into plans for the East Bank development, the Good Growth Hub & East Works which we look forward to continuing as the initiatives progress.

We've continued to work and grow with the recruitment of new members who bring a wealth of experience from their engagement within the local community as well as a fresh new perspective, enriching the Board's skill and reach.

2020 has been a different year to what we envisioned it to be, in some ways bringing us closer but while undoubtedly distancing us physically. The new normal, whatever it looks like, will bring new challenges for local young people and communities, and all of us at the Legacy Youth Board are excited and inspired to seize these opportunities to help our communities thrive as we continue to inspire a generation”

Read more about the Legacy Youth Board, their backgrounds and what they hope to bring to their role.