Speak Out, Be Heard: What Is a Lighthouse Town Hall?
Over the past year, we’ve been bringing people together through our Town Hall events to talk about the issues that matter to young people across Brighton & Hove and beyond. They’re a chance for people to share ideas and have conversations to imagine what change could look like.
Our Town Halls are a space for people to connect, ask questions, challenge perspectives and just generally have a say. Whether you want to be part of a conversation, or you want to share an idea anonymously, or just simply listen, everyone is welcome to take part.
What is a Town Hall?
A ‘Town Hall Meeting’ typically refers to the centuries-old practice of gathering people from a local area together in a central, public meeting place to discuss and talk through issues relating to the community, together.
Historically, they have been a crucial part of local governance and organising, giving an opportunity for local leaders to meet with the people that they represent in order to act in their best interests.
Why do we hold Town Halls?
At Lighthouse, we believe young people should have a say in the cultural spaces, events and opportunities created for them. As a publicly funded charity, it’s important that our work is shaped by, and accountable to, the people we serve.
We produce open events, including workshops, exhibitions and discussion panels, focused on people aged 16–30. Our aim is to explore ideas, address issues and create opportunities that reflect the interests, experiences and perspectives of our audiences.
Our Town Halls build on this by creating space for people to share what matters to them. They highlight gaps in the cultural landscape in Brighton & Hove (and beyond), and help shape what we do next.
Building on our Future Creative Leaders programme, Town Halls are also part of our wider commitment to youth leadership. They help us better understand the barriers young people face in having their voices heard, while giving us an opportunity to research, test and develop more equitable approaches to sharing power, governance and decision-making.
Ultimately, we want to create a space where different perspectives can come together, people feel heard, and conversations can lead to meaningful action.
Format of a Lighthouse Town Hall
- They last about 3 hours, including breaks
- There are always snacks, refreshments and hot drinks
- The facilitator leads a presentation with a series of questions to prompt conversation
- There is always a chance for people to answer and provide feedback in various ways
- Through using a presentation system called Mentimeter, people are allowed to share answers and ideas anonymously
- Alongside this, discussion continues face-to-face
If you have any ideas you want to share or things you'd like to discuss at a future Town Hall (in-person or anonymously), you can email info@lighthouse.org.uk with the subject line ‘Town Hall’.
ABOUT FUTURE CREATIVE LEADERS
Future Creative Leaders (FCL) is a 12-month paid programme offering young creatives from underrepresented backgrounds the opportunity to work closely with Lighthouse's leadership team to explore various aspects of creative leadership.
FCL redefines youth engagement by sharing power and resources directly with young people. This 12-month programme goes beyond access or participation. It places real influence, leadership, creative agency and decision-making power in the hands of those traditionally underrepresented in the creative industries.
Over the year, participants will co-curate programmes, select participants for mini-residencies, and recruit their successors, all while exploring alternative governance structures, accountability, and power-sharing.
FUNDERS
We're grateful to: Innovate UK, Chalk Cliff Trust, Sussex Community Foundation, and Enjoolata Foundation