From consultation to co-creation:
How Growing Talent Morley
is inspiring the next generation
of placemakers

With many local authorities facing increasing pressure to demonstrate value for money in their capital investment decisions, the question of how to meaningfully engage residents, especially young people, has never been more urgent.

Traditional consultation methods often miss the mark. Surveys, town hall meetings and formal planning documents can feel inaccessible or irrelevant for young people, particularly when it comes to large-scale regeneration and infrastructure projects that might take years to manifest.

There’s also a deeper challenge: in a world of instant gratification, why should young people care that their town has been awarded millions in Government funding if their everyday life isn’t changing straight away? Headlines about investment can feel disconnected from lived experience, and without visible, immediate improvements, it’s easy for that funding to feel like background noise.

For councils, this highlights the importance of making regeneration tangible, showing not just where the money comes from but how funding translates into real opportunities for the next generation. Without intentional, creative, and early engagement, we risk excluding a generation from decisions that will define their futures.

Ahead Partnership has worked with Leeds City Council and the Morley Town Deal board to develop a youth engagement programme that shows what’s possible when young people become co-creators of place.

Across the Growing Talent Morley programme, consultation has been transformed from a passive exercise into an active, and empowering process. Participants met mentors and role models from Leeds City Council, Landsec, Sterling Capitol, Munroe K, and other major employers, gaining insight into the employment opportunities and community pride the Town Deal would unlock.

The programme has engaged almost 10,000 young people from practically every school in Morley. Activities have ranged from workshops and creative placemaking challenges to careers panels and employer-led mentoring.

This goes beyond listening. It empowers young people to shape the future of their town, seeing regeneration as something they can influence, and connecting long-term development schemes to their careers and aspirations.

Through initiatives like “Have Your Say” workshops, students explored and influenced real-world capital projects, including improvements to Grade I-listed Morley Town Hall and proposed new walking and cycling routes. They were encouraged to think critically about accessibility, sustainability, and community needs, while giving local authorities valuable insight into how regeneration is perceived by those who will live with its outcomes.

Our ambition has always been to make placemaking feel exciting and tangible – something that offers real opportunities for local people, as opposed to vague promises. In 2024, students from Elliott Hudson College took part in a challenge to reimagine an Innovation Hub at White Rose Park. Their ideas reflected a deep understanding of entrepreneurship, inclusivity, and Morley’s unique local identity. 100% of students involved said the experience improved their perception of career options in Morley and Leeds, and helped them think more critically about their future employment.

Creative engagement has been a powerful tool for helping young people to see the difference they can make. Through the Pocket Park challenge, students were invited to reimagine one of the parks earmarked for redevelopment through the Town Deal Fund, using their creativity to design an inclusive, sustainable public space, while the Art in the Park celebration brought young people and their families together to co-create a biodiversity-themed mural with a local artist.

These projects showed young people that their voices and creativity matter. The work culminated in presentations to industry professionals and community leaders – including at UKREiiF – giving students a platform to showcase ideas and build confidence in influencing change.

Importantly, the programme also reaches groups that councils have a statutory duty to support, such as care leavers and children eligible for free school meals. Activities are designed to be inclusive and relevant, and schools report high levels of engagement among students experiencing disadvantage. Workshops have explored themes like neurodiversity and accessibility in public spaces, ensuring that regeneration reflects the lived experiences of all residents.

In 2023–24 alone, 3,119 young people participated in 36 activities, supported by 159 local volunteers. Feedback shows that 95% reported better perceptions of local career options, 94% improved understanding of different jobs and 93% developed skills in representing themselves. Volunteers also reported significant benefits, with 100% gaining leadership and communication skills, and 91% a better understanding of young people’s perspectives.

For council chief executives and senior officers, Growing Talent Morley offers a model for making youth voices part of capital investment decisions in a meaningful and measurable way. It builds trust, fosters civic pride, and ensures communities feel regeneration is done with them, not to them. It creates engaged residents ready to enter the workforce once regeneration is complete, turning those places you’ve created into real communities.

As we look ahead to future rounds of Towns Fund investment and other capital expenditure programmes, we need to adopt approaches that reflect the diversity and dynamism of our communities. Growing Talent Morley shows us that when young people are given the opportunity to contribute, they rise to the occasion – and in doing so, they help shape a future that works for everyone.

This article first featured in the Municipal Journal on 29 September 2025

Image of Beryl Burton Gardens by the Morley Town Deal Board