One hundred young voices from the North East gathered at a 'Hope Hack', organised by the National Citizen Service (NCS).

The event sought to engage young people in devising solutions to societal challenges, a cause promoted by the Hope Collective, formed to support the legacy campaign of Damilola Taylor, a 10-year-old killed in London in 2000.

The event, opened by Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Kim McGuinness, was a platform for idea generation and activism.

Key regional policymakers such as the North of Tyne Combined Authority listened to what young people wanted to see changed.

The ideas discussed will inform the Reimagined report, to be delivered to the government in 2024.

Rylie Sweeney, 18 from Teesside, is chair of the Youth Advisory Group at the Careers Enterprise Company and youth ambassador for Children’s Commissioner England and NAWIC North East and Tees Valley Committee.

She said: “It’s been an inspirational day empowering and inspiring young people and hearing their ideas.

"It’s so important that young people’s views are heard and listened to."

PCC Kim McGuinness said: "The young people in that room today were not only inspiring but they spoke a lot of sense.

"By working together with young people to address concerns and deliver improvements, I firmly believe the North East can become the home of real opportunity."