Students attend Manchester Citizens Regional Youth Assembly
Posted 10th July 2025
Last Friday evening, students from Dixons Newall Green and Dixons Brooklands made an inspiring and powerful impact at the Greater Manchester Citizens Regional Youth Assembly, a Citizens UK event marking one year since the general election. This gathering was part of a national movement to hold political leaders and public officials accountable for the promises made to young people, and our students were right at the heart of it.
The event, which brought together young people from across Greater Manchester, was not just attended by our students, they helped shape it. Following a listening campaign in their communities, students from Dixons Newall Green and Dixons Brooklands identified key issues affecting their lives and worked together to formulate a clear set of "asks" to bring to power-holders.
The event opened with a captivating performance from the Dixons Newall Green choir, whose talent and presence set the tone for the evening. Their performance was so well-received that they've already been invited back to perform at all future Citizens UK events, a testament to their incredible ability and the positive impression they left.
From there, students from both academies delivered a rousing roll call, proudly introducing their schools and communities. A Dixons Newall Green student began the testimony section with a raw and heartfelt speech on her experience navigating mental health challenges as a young person and carer. Another student spoke powerfully about their lived experience of racial discrimination, confronting the harsh truths of growing up black in Manchester. Three more students shared vivid stories of feeling unsafe while using public transport, bringing attention to the urgent need for safer streets and commutes.
The impact of our students' voices was clear. Deputy Mayor Kate Green pledged to follow up with the students and other leaders including Greater Manchester's Chief of Police promised to meet regularly with our young people to continue working together on these important issues.