‘For the youth; by the youth’
On Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd February, FOCUS’ Leicestvial project turned Haymarket Shopping Centre into the LEICESTIVAL Festival – a vibrant celebration of young voices in Leicester. The event highlighted the importance of giving young people opportunities to express themselves through music, mental health awareness, and community engagement.
LEICESTIVAL was born from the desire to give young people a voice in a city where they often feel overlooked or misunderstood. The project’s young people had spent years taking part in Leicester’s vibrant festival scene and researching the city’s heritage. Their youth-led festival gave them the chance to host their own event!
Over 1,500 members of the public attended and explored three interactive zones.
In Activity Alley, organisations like Leicester University’s Archaeology Service, Leicester City FC in the Community, and Pedestrian joined us to deliver hands-on workshops.
The Zen Den provided relaxed games, a darts tournament, and mental-health support courtesy of our Facing the Future volunteers. It also hosted the FocusTV podcast, which captured honest reflections from young people about life in Leicester today and their hopes for 2030.
Finally, the Performance Zone showcased live music from young artists linked to 2Funky Music and Leicester College. Sambando even joined us on Day Two!
The festival was the result of six months of planning by over 25 young people and 15 volunteers — many of whom were experiencing event planning for the first time. With guidance from Leicester City festivals and heritage professional John Coster, young people took on real roles in project management, programming, and delivery. What began as notes on a flip-chart became a powerful space for youth expression and pride.
For the youth; by the youth — LEICESTIVAL proved what’s possible when young people are given the chance to lead.
Thank you to everyone getting involved in LEICESTIVAL!:
