Redz Youth Hub is turning one at the end of the month and we wanted to shout out a bunch of the amazing things that have happened in Stroud’s very first Youth-Led community hub – we can’t mention everything but here are some highlights – let’s go:
1 – Youth Assemblies!
Self organised by the amazing crew at Mutiny: Stroud’s Youth Assembly these have been a regular throughout the year bringing together passionate local youth to decide what events, campaigns and projects they want to see. Changing the world isn’t easy and these essential spaces make it seem not just possible but exciting. We’ll keep using these open meeting spaces going forward to help shape the future of Redz and encourage everyone to learn about and have a go practicing assemblies in your community!
2 – Youth Educators Gathering
Our resident Youth Educational group The RYSE brought together an inspiring group of young educators from across the country in May. There is so much that we learn when working for our communities whether in rural, urban or even student settings and this was a chance to share as young people trying hard not just to learn but to package that leanring into educational resources and sessions. They’ve continued working together and some helped run the Summer Residentials as well as big national events like The World Transformed.
3 – Bluez Music Night
Springing from one of the Youth Assemblies the amazing Bluez was born who put of their first music night at Redz in late August 2025. Black-led music night is rare enough in town not to mention it all being run by folks under 25 with some great acts and a wonderful community atmosphere created. They’re thinking about doing more this year so if you haven’t followed their instagram make sure you do so you don’t miss out: https://www.instagram.com/bluez_stroud/
4 – Summer Residentials
Two amazing weekend long residentials happened in the late Summer. The first: “Why have we stopped talking about climate change?” brought together local and national youth to ask why so many fewer young people are talking about climate change than 5 years ago even though its just as serious. The second: “What to do about being English?” asked a diverse group of young activists to wrestle with the entangled and often far too violent nature of Englishness as an identity – especially relevant during a Summer of flag flying!
Both were great examples of young people self organising to try and solve the big problems in their lives and we’re so happy to be supporting them with space to call their own.
5 – Friends of the RYSE Dinners
For years now the RYSE team have been inviting us ‘Olders’ to break bread once a month and dig our teeth into some of the amazing questions they’ve been asking. This year topics covered Palestine protests, Eldership, Internationalism and more – they’re always politcal but also hugely welcoming, something political spaces so often lack! We’d really recommend following their instagram to come along this year: https://www.instagram.com/the.r.y.s.e/
6 – Community Meetings
We’ve become host to some amazing intergenerational community groups this year: Stroud Against Racism, Parents for Future, Stroud Radical Reading Group, Emergence Restock and more. They bring their experience and open passionate approach to the Redz in a way that is facilitating ever more intergenerational learning and working relationships. We’re always open to more folks (so long as there is space!) so please do register interest if you’ve got an event idea!
7 – Art Club
Another youth-led group that launched from the Assemblies the Club was a space for young people to share skills, freely craft, mend clothes, openly socialise and make friends. It only ran for a few months but we’re exploring opening it again if we can get a consistent volunteer leader (maybe you?) and there is definitely loads of hunger for it in town!
8 – Our Drop-ins!
Finally, we based everything on opening the doors on Saturdays and welcoming everyone in and Stroud answered with other 150 visitors on our busiest day! We served tea, played pool, explored the library, sold stickers, sat and chatted together, sold upcycled clothes and created that open flowing space in which community lives. We’re grateful to everyone who came in with a curious smile and wanted to learn – here’s to many more moments of connection in the future!
Big thanks to everyone who has supported the project so far and of course to the young leaders who make it what it is – we’re just lucky enough to have a front row ticket to everything you’re creating!