Hackney students launch youth chatroom at The Atria

The event, organised by four Hackney students and the Hackney speaker, Councillor Sheila Suso-Runge, will take place on April 9 at The Atria.

The students, Romeo Bremmer, Eyda Keles, Joseph Dixon, and Alanis Hernandez Vasques, aim to create a platform for youth engagement within the community.

Romeo (left) and three others have arranged the event with Hackney speaker Sheila Suso-Runge (Image: The Chatroom Hackney Youth Ideas Factory) Year 12 student Romeo said: “Most of my friends and school mates would love to contribute to community conversations but don’t know how, so they become disengaged and apathetic.

“It is so important for Hackney young people to have a voice when it comes to decisions about what is happening in our community.”

A-level student Joseph added: “The mayor has declared Hackney a child-friendly borough, so we have invited 80 Hackney children and young people to our event to chat specifically about ways the council can get us interested and involved.

“The best way for adults to know how to engage with young people is to ask them.”

The free event, sponsored by The Hackney Speaker, Young LIT Stars, Perm Inc., Hackney’s IOCBYP Resident’s Board, and The Crib, will include free goody bags, prize draws, and light refreshments.