We want to hear from local young people
Following on from the community meetings we held over the summer, I now want to look at ways we can get the young people of our community involved, and would like to request your help.
I want to run some small public meetings at the Woolton Picture House for 15-25 year olds – much like we did for the community meetings in the summer, where people could attend, share their thoughts and ideas and ask questions.
It is vitally important to include our young people in the plans for redeveloping the cinema – not just in terms of the programme of films we offer (though for many, this will be their first involvement with the Picture House), but also by asking them directly to share their needs, wants and ideas for activities and events that they would like to take part in. For example, I am looking at developing a Young Filmmakers programme with practical filmmaking sessions, perhaps with seasonal/annual young people’s short film festivals. Another idea is a work skills training programme, where young people can come and learn the skills needed to work in different roles within the cinema, and develop practical skills such as customer service or cash handling alongside softer skills such as talking to members of the public and building confidence. I am also planning a 15-25 membership scheme, which will give young people discounted tickets for films.
Of course, there is no point in planning such activities if they are not what our young people want, so I’m asking for your help in reaching out to the 15-25 year olds within our community.
I will be holding young people’s meetings at the Woolton Picture House on the following dates/times:
Sunday 23rd November 2025 – 11am and 3pm
Sunday 30th November 2025 –11am and 3pm
If you are aged 15-25 or know a young person who is – perhaps a family member or friend? – could you please let them know about these meetings and invite them to sign up to take part? You can send them this email for information – they can register to find out more or express interest in taking part by going to:
Young People’s meetings sign up form
The sessions will be small, friendly and informal, and there will be no expectations other than for the young people taking part to be willing to share their thoughts and experiences to better help us make plans for the cinema that work for them. Even if they don’t really know what they want from the cinema, they can still help by talking through the ideas we come up with as a group.
Your help in reaching out to our community’s young people would be much appreciated and by doing so, you’ll be helping to involve them in what we hope will be an exciting new development for everyone in the local community.
For context, I have 25 years’ professional marketing experience of engaging communities, audiences and stakeholders of all ages within the cultural, charity and educational sectors, and hold a current DBS certificate approving me to work with young people. This year, I undertook a refresher course in safeguarding training at the University of Liverpool. The sessions will be run by me with support from at least one other Director and/or volunteer of the Woolton Cinema CIC.
If you have any questions about our plans to work with local young people, please don’t hesitate to get in touch – I can be reached at rachael@wooltoncinema.com