The First Youth Empowerment Summit by Start Young UK

On May 8th, 2025, Start Young UK proudly hosted its first Youth Empowerment Summit – a powerful evening of inspiration, insight, and impact.

Held at Plexal in East London, the event brought together over 100 attendees including young people, community leaders, educators, policymakers, and business professionals – all united by a shared goal: to unlock the potential of the next generation.

A Celebration of Youth and Possibility

From the moment guests walked in, the atmosphere was electric – fuelled by vibrant conversation, inspiring stories, and a real sense of community. Our young people took centre stage, bravely sharing their lived experiences through our Elevate programme and reminding us why this work matters.

The evening featured keynote speeches, powerful panel discussions, live performances, and pledges from attendees committing to support youth in tangible ways. Topics ranged from apprenticeships and employment barriers, to mentorship and social mobility – with every voice adding depth to the conversation.

Collaboration at the Heart

We were honoured to be joined by panellists and speakers such as Amani Simpson, Joe Seddon, Leroy Logan MBE, Callum Taylor, Amar Virdee, Shaun Wilshire, and Alex Hawley – all of whom shared powerful insights and a commitment to creating equitable opportunities for young people.

We also witnessed an incredible dance performance by East London Dance, and were energised throughout the night by our phenomenal host, Ashley Joseph.

Community Backing That Made It Possible

This event was only possible because of the collective effort of many. A special thank you to our event sponsors – Barclays, Newham Council, Accenture, Hotline, Bentley, and Plexal – and to our partners including CWA Catering, Make the Moment Photo Booth, JCut Edit, Filming for Humanity, and photographer Dariusz Panfil.

Thanks also to our moderators Erin Rooney and Nikki Adebiyi, our raffle prize donors (Holland & Barrett, West Ham FC, Sadler’s Wells), and of course, our volunteers and core Start Young UK team who worked tirelessly behind the scenes.

A Moment That’s Just the Beginning

We’re looking ahead to launching our next Elevate cohorts, both in London and Manchester, and growing our Thrive buddy programme to support younger children as they transition into their next school year.

Join Us

If you’d like to get involved, collaborate, or support our mission in any way – we’d love to hear from you.

Together, we can create a future where every young person, no matter where they start, has the support and opportunity to thrive.