We're delighted to share an update on a project that's been close to our hearts for the past few months. At Allstar, we believe in the power of technology to bridge gaps and create meaningful connections, especially for young people. We've been working alongside some amazing partners – NCS, CAST, Yalla Cooperative, FotoNow CIC, and Groundwork UK – to tackle a real challenge: how to reach young people who find traditional in-person programmes overwhelming.
We know that social anxiety and the pressure of new environments can be a huge barrier for many young people. So, we decided to dive deep and find solutions that truly resonate. We spent five months immersed in design thinking, collaborating closely with co-design groups of young people and youth workers. This collaborative process was crucial, allowing us to understand the problem from all angles and develop solutions that were genuinely user-centered.
Our exploration led us to two exciting concepts:
Spaces App: A digital platform designed to offer young people safe and supported spaces for small-group interaction and connection.
Youth Voice App: A tool that empowers youth workers to effectively consult with young people, enabling them to shape programmes and projects that reflect their interests and needs.
After careful consideration and discussion with our incubator organisations, we decided to focus our development efforts on the Youth Voice App. We recognised the immense potential of this tool to transform how youth organisations engage with and listen to the young people they serve.
February 2025 was a whirlwind of development, and we're thrilled to announce that the Youth Voice App is now built and ready for testing! We've been putting it through its paces with the invaluable help of youth workers and, most importantly, young people themselves.
A huge shoutout to the Healthy Minds apprentices from Bradford and Craven. They've been instrumental in testing the app and providing crucial feedback. We were particularly delighted to hear from Lois, who said:
“I think it’s easy to use and accessible. I think it’s a great way to collect feedback from young people. It’s straightforward and easy to use.”
Hearing that the app is user-friendly and effective is incredibly rewarding. It validates our commitment to creating tools that are genuinely helpful and accessible.
Our next step is to gather all the feedback from our testing phase. Once we've analysed and incorporated the insights, we'll be looking to share the Youth Voice App with youth workers across the UK. Our goal is to empower them with the tools they need to ensure that the voices and interests of young people are at the heart of their sessions and programmes.
We believe that by leveraging technology, we can create more inclusive and engaging experiences for young people. We're excited to see the positive impact the Youth Voice App will have on youth organisations and the young people they support.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue this exciting journey! We'll be sharing more information about the app's launch and how you can get involved.