Mental health, transport and rules for social media and AI made the top five in a survey of 2,800 young people. About 80 took the issues to councillors.

About 80 young people from schools and colleges across Brighton & Hove took over the Council Chamber at Hove Town Hall last Thursday, 22 October. The day was hosted by the city’s Youth Council. It was built around a survey that nearly 2,800 young people answered (Brighton & Hove City Council, 28 October 2026).

What young people said matters most

The Your Voice Matters Survey was open to young people who live, study or work in the city. Its answers produced five themes:

  • inclusion and anti-racism
  • youth mental health
  • transport and travel
  • valuable work experience for under-16s
  • safety and regulation of social media and AI

The Youth Council ran a focus group on each theme during the morning. This is its biennial listening exercise, held every two years.

The last big exercise, the Make Your Mark consultation in 2024, reached more than 3,700 young people aged 11 to 18. Health and wellbeing headed its list of ten top issues, and transport was on it too (Brighton & Hove Youth Council). The two surveys asked different questions, so they cannot be compared directly. Social media and AI did not appear as a theme in 2024.

Questions for councillors

In the afternoon, councillors and council officers from across services joined the young people. A question and answer session followed, drawn from the morning’s discussions.

Councillor Emma Daniel, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Youth Services, said: “It’s vital that young people are involved in the decisions and democratic processes that shape the services they use, particularly as we look forward to lowering the voting age to 16 at the next general election.”

She said the young people “asked clever, constructive and hopeful questions”.

What it means for you

  • The Youth Council’s manifesto is due later this year. It will be based on the focus groups and will set the Youth Council’s campaigns for the next 12 months. We will report what it contains when it is published.
  • Young people can join. The Youth Council is made up of young people aged 13 to 19, and up to 25 for those with special educational needs and disabilities. Members are elected or nominated through schools, colleges and youth groups, so the first step is to ask a teacher or youth group leader (council).

The council’s Youth Council page sets out what members do and the skills the role builds.