Young Lancaster District Draft Consultation Report

RISE Young Lancaster District Draft Consultation Report   

This report has been produced as a result of of facilitating conversations with over 120 young people.

Event: REACH Festival 21st September 2025  

Theme – answers to ‘booking on’ consultation question – what one would you change about where you live?

1.  More Things to Do

    • "More things to do"
    • "More activities for young people/pre-teens/kids"
    • "Youth clubs"
    • "Better places to hang out"
    • "More events for young people"
    • "A table tennis hall"
    • "Free 24-hour indoor seating areas"
    • "More variety of events for young people"
    • "Things that don’t involve money or long transport"

Insight:
There is a strong desire for accessible, affordable, and local activities. 

 

2.  Cleanliness & Environment

Recurring concerns about physical environment

    • "Clean roads"
    • "No rubbish"
    • "Untamed nature"
    • "Rubbish on the street"
    • "Clean Regent Park"
    • “Do up abandoned buildings"
    • "Brighten up the area"

Insight:
Cleanliness of public spaces is a significant issue. Young people asked for more appealing public spaces. 

 

3. Shops, Infrastructure & Appearance

Requests for a better infrastructure. 

  • Specific requests:
    • "More shops"
    • "More clothing stores"
    • "HMV reopening"
    • "Need more shopping stores"

Insight:
There’s a desire for revitalised infrastructure and better shopping options. 

 

4.  Safety & Policing

Safety concerns from several respondents

  • Comments:
    • "More police patrols"
    • "Things happen but there's barely any policing"
    • "Make it feel more safe and at home"

Insight:
Young people notice a lack of visible safety in their area. Some mention crime or anti-social behaviour, while others want a more welcoming, kind environment.

 

5. People & Social Issues

Feelings about others in the community

    • "The people"
    • "Loud children"
    • "Crackheads"
    • "Make my neighbours nicer"
    • "A kinder place"

Insight:
Frustration with social behaviour and community cohesion. Young people want respectful and friendly surroundings.

 

6. Transport & Accessibility

Some want better access to opportunities

    • "Cheaper and more frequent public transport"
    • "Things that don't involve long transport"

Insight:
Barriers like cost and distance limit access to current activities. Some want better-connected public transport or local options to reduce the need to travel far.

 

Summary

Theme

Description

More things to do

Local, affordable, youth-friendly activities

Cleanliness & environment

Cleaner streets, parks, and respect for nature

Shops & infrastructure

More stores, improved buildings, better hangout spots

Safety & policing

Visible policing, safer public spaces

Social issues & community

Nicer people, less anti-social behaviour

Transport

Affordable and frequent transport, accessibility

Theme: What young people believe they have a right to, what they would like to have, and what they need for a good life.

What do young people feel they have a right to?

    1. Freedom and Safety 
  • A name and nationality 
  • Being treated equally
  • Freedom from abuse
  • Protect people and make sure needs are met
  • Freedom of speech
  • Being safe 
  • To walk the streets and feel safe 
  • Peace and quiet 
    1. Health 
  • Heath care
  • Access to medical care without having to wait (10+ years) or paying to go private (specifically gender affirming care)
  • Adults that are supported 
    1. Education 
  • To be educated – access to college/Uni  
  • Proper education 
  • To know history 
  • To have books
    1. Basic Needs 
  • Warm clothes 
  • Clean water 
  • Shelter 
  • Water
  • Food 
  • Public services – bathrooms/water 
  • Money
    1. Nature 
  • Access to nature
  • Going outside 
    1. Cost of living 
  • Everything to be cheaper so life is easier to access 
    1. Lifestyle 
  • Enjoyable job 
  • To buy a house 
  • Access to technology – free wifi/power/heating
  • Phones 
    1. Dignity 
  • To go to the toilet in school 
  • Promote individuality (schools less ‘culty’) 
  • Right to be a goth 

What do young people want ‘nice to have’ but not essential

    1. Hobbies/interest 
  • Right to watch horror 
  • Anime 
  • Energy drinks 
  • Latest trainers 
    1. Lifestyle 
  • Social media 
  • Subscriptions to streaming service i.e. Netflix or Disney 
  • A holiday 
  • Fast food 
  • Headphones
  • music streaming (like Spotify)
  • Your own bedroom 
  • Relaxing 

Needs - what do you need for a good life?

    1. Safety 
  • Freedom from violence 
    1. Health 
  • Alcohol being too accessible 
  • No vapes for under 18s 
  • Nutritious food 
  • Shorter waiting lists with the NHS
  • Drugs less accessible 
    1. Relationships
  • Love 
  • Real friends 
  • To have humour 
  • Expressing opinions  
  • Playing
    1. Lifestyle 
  • Money from a job 
  • Phones 
  • Consoles 
  • Chocolate

Young people believe they have fundamental rights to freedom, safety, equality, proper healthcare, quality education, and basic necessities such as food, water, shelter, warmth, and public services. They feel entitled to access nature, affordable living, enjoyable future opportunities, and dignity in daily life, including self-expression and fair treatment in schools. Beyond these rights, they identify “nice to have” non-essentials like hobbies, streaming services, holidays, fast food, personal bedrooms, and other lifestyle comforts. For a good life, they say they need safety from violence, better health protections, reduced access to harmful substances, nutritious food, strong relationships, opportunities for play and self-expression, and enough financial and technological resources to participate fully in modern life.

Theme:  REACH Festival What do you like about Morecambe now?

  • The views across the bay
  • Jump jump!
  • Community spirit 
  • Seaside 
  • The walks and views
  • Lots of events
  • The library
  • Trampoline parks
  • The sea
  • Pleasure Land 
  • Soul Bowl
  • The market
  • The football team
  • The clock tower
  • Happy Mount Park
  • Lancaster and Morecambe College 
  • Vintage yearly bus festivals 
  • The play area 

Theme: REACH Festival Post Box – post your thoughts.

Why are the streets and roads so dirty?

Colleges – Would you make online courses/classes for English and Poetry and song writing?  

Why isn’t there more help for drug users under18?

To The Grand Theatre – Would you consider making theatre tickets more available? 

Why don’t we have indoor seating areas always open to the public to relax?

      Why aren’t there any youth music venues in Lancaster?

To H&M and Uniqlo: what would you need to come to Morecambe? 

Theme: Blue Sky Thinking for the future of Morecambe  

Health and wellbeing 

Safe places for kids that take drugs – support with addiction 

Infrastructure 

  • Bigger clothes shops
  • Big brand names 
  • More cheap shops 
  • More clothes shops 
  • Goth shop/café
  • More parks for kids 
  • Safer Roads for cycling
  • 5* sports facilities
  • A youth zone 

Education/training  

  • A place that allows young people to learn new skills
  • Night school for 14+
  • Activities to help with everyday living 
  • Life skills 
  • More online college courses 
  • Cooking classes for kids
  • A place that allows young people to learn new skills 

Hobbies 

  • More social groups 
  • Affordable drama in Lancaster 
  • More clubs on weekends
  • Women’s Rugby
  • Dance club (alcohol free) for young people
  • More stuff to do that doesn’t need money    
  • More things to do for pre-teens
  • More youth based activities e.g. concerts, music based.
  • More free things
  • Free activities 
  • More clubs
  • More community events 
  • Different events for young people e.g. music, art.
  • Youth clubs after school in all areas 
  • Walking groups

Nature/ environment  

  • More allotments
  • Fresh veg
  • Veg patch on Rylands 
  • Safer cycling 
  • Clean green spaces
  • City sanctuary farm   
  • I would love a local butterfly house
  • Cleaner places
  • Clean roads 
  • Less litter =  better community 

Theme: young people’s views on creating a vision of a Morecambe they want.

Event: Morecambe Library Consultation Event 2nd April 2025.

      1) Infrastructure 

  • More shops in the centre e.g. Primark
  • Larger shopping centre
  • More parking spaces 
  • More pubs
  • Nice restaurants 
  • Better transport networks
  • Keep prices affordable 

2) Access to healthy foods 

  • Food clubs
  • Food banks
  • Holiday food activities 
  • Community fridges

      3) Activities  

  • Exercise and sport
  • Outdoor activities
  • Creativity 
  • Safe spaces for young people 

4) Nature/Environment 

  • Plant more flowers 
  • Flower day 
  • Encourage people to go outside
  • Encourage pride in place
  • Keep old buildings preserved
  • Encourage Wildlife  
  • Keep Morecambe Bay clean 
  • Hidden gems in Morecambe - beach, parks, Happy Mount Park 
  • Green spaces/clean spaces 
  • History e.g. Eric Morecambe

5) Safety

  • Safe places to play
  • Good law enforcement  

6) Healthcare

  • Safeguarding
  • Harm/risk reduction
  • Encourage good health 
  • Encourage health lifestyle
  • Hospital care
  • Good sleep
  • Opportunities to relax

7) Dignity 

  • Free period products  
  • Nice clothes 

8) Aspirations

  • Talent
  • Technology
  • Role models
  • Support unity – learn more languages.   

Conclusion

Across all consultation activities, young people in Morecambe have communicated a clear, consistent, and compelling vision for the place they want to live. Their feedback shows that they are observant, thoughtful, and deeply invested in the future of their community. They highlighted both the strengths of Morecambe—its coastline, parks, community spirit, events, and local character—and the barriers that prevent them from fully enjoying and participating in local life.

At the centre of their priorities is a desire for more opportunities: accessible activities, youth-friendly spaces and skill-building programmes that don’t depend on high costs or long travel. Young people want places where they can belong—safe, supportive environments where they can socialise, explore a variety of interests, and develop skills. They also expressed a strong need for clean, welcoming public spaces and a local environment they can feel proud of.

Their comments show that safety, policing, and community behaviour remain concerns, with young people wanting both visible safety measures and a kinder, more respectful atmosphere. They also emphasised the importance of basic rights and needs—healthcare without long waits, dignity in school, access to nature, affordable living, and equal opportunities for education and personal growth. Alongside these fundamentals, they also spoke about aspirations for the future: good jobs, positive role models, access to technology, and chances to express themselves freely.

Young people’s suggestions for “blue sky” improvements demonstrate imagination and ambition: a youth zone, better transport, cleaner streets, bigger shops, more creative opportunities, safe cycling routes, nature projects, and community spaces open around the clock. Their questions to local institutions—from theatres to colleges to retailers—show a desire to be partners in shaping their town, not just passive observers.

Overall, the message is clear: young people want a Morecambe that is cleaner, safer, more vibrant, and more connected—a place where they have the rights, support, and opportunities needed for a good life. They value their community and want to see it grow in ways that include them, listen to them, and reflect their needs. This report shows that young people are ready to contribute to Morecambe’s future; now the task of RISE Young Lancaster District   is to work with them to turn this shared vision into reality.