Youth Voice in Action: Luis Brings the History of Bolton to Life
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Sometimes you see something in a young person that they may not yet see in themselves.
For us, that has been one of the most rewarding parts of working with Luis.
Over recent months, we have been working together on our History of Bolton project, giving Luis the opportunity to get out into the community, research local history, stand in front of the camera and tell the stories of the town in his own way.
And one thing has become increasingly clear.
Luis is a natural presenter.
More Than a History Project
On the surface, the project is about exploring Bolton’s history, communities, buildings and changing landscape.
But behind the camera, something much bigger is happening.
Luis is developing skills in:
- Research and preparation
- Public speaking
- Communication
- Presenting
- Storytelling
- Digital media
- Content creation
- Teamwork
- Confidence and self-belief
These are transferable skills that can open doors into employment, further education, media, the creative industries and many other opportunities.
That is why we believe youth-led projects like this matter.
They give young people the chance to discover what they are good at by actually doing it.
You Wouldn’t Believe How Far He Has Come
People watching Luis confidently presenting one of these videos today might not appreciate the journey behind what they are seeing.
We do.
We have watched his confidence develop.
We have watched him find his voice.
We have watched him become increasingly comfortable speaking to the camera and sharing his knowledge with other people.
With every video, he is developing.
That progress matters far more to us than views, likes or algorithms.
Because behind every piece of content is a young person building skills, experience and belief in what might be possible.
Luis, everyone at Genuine Futures is proud of you.
Keep going.
“This Young Man Should Have His Own Show”
Recently, Genuine Futures founder Sam Smith had a conversation with ITV News about young people, opportunity and some of the young people we work alongside.
Luis came up in that conversation.
Sam’s message was simple:
“This young man should have his own show.”
It might sound ambitious.
But why shouldn’t we be ambitious for young people?
Too often, conversations about young people facing barriers begin with what they cannot do, what has gone wrong or what problem needs fixing.
At Genuine Futures, we want to ask a different question:
What could this young person become if somebody gave them a genuine opportunity?
Luis is demonstrating exactly why that question matters.
Watch Luis in Action
In the latest instalment of our History of Bolton project, Luis continues exploring the stories behind the places, buildings and communities that have shaped Bolton.
Watch the latest History of Bolton video:
https://youtu.be/PMfIVDe1TXk?
The project will continue to give Luis opportunities to develop his presenting style, research new subjects and build a growing portfolio of media work.
We hope it will also encourage other young people to recognise that there are many different ways to discover their talents and build their futures.
This Is What Investment in Young People Can Look Like
Projects like this do not happen in isolation.
We want to thank The National Lottery Community Fund, Co-op Foundation and the many other funding partners, community organisations, businesses and individuals who continue to support Genuine Futures and believe in the potential of young people.
Your investment helps create the space for young people to try something new.
It helps create trusted relationships.
It creates experiences.
It creates opportunities to develop skills.
And sometimes it helps uncover a talent that might otherwise never have been discovered.
That is why investment in prevention and opportunity matters.
Success should not only be measured by whether somebody immediately moves into a job or qualification.
Sometimes the first outcomes are confidence, belonging, communication, aspiration and the belief that there might be a future worth working towards.
Those foundations can change everything that follows.
Youth Voice Should Be Seen and Heard
At Genuine Futures, we believe young people should not simply be the subjects of conversations about their futures.
They should be part of those conversations.
They should be behind the microphone.
In front of the camera.
Around the decision-making table.
Developing enterprises.
Creating content.
Sharing their experiences.
And helping shape the communities where they live.
The History of Bolton project is one small example of what that can look like.
For Luis, it is becoming a platform to develop his voice and demonstrate his ability.
For us, it reinforces something we see again and again:
Talent is everywhere. Opportunity isn’t.
Our job is to help bridge that gap.
Could You Help Create the Next Opportunity?
We want to hear from schools, colleges, employers, media organisations, broadcasters, creative businesses, community organisations and partners who can help us create more real-world opportunities for young people like Luis.
That could mean mentoring, work experience, studio visits, presenting opportunities, creative projects, training, employment pathways or simply opening a door that a young person might otherwise never reach.
If you believe in giving young people the opportunity to show what they can do, we would love to hear from you.
Genuine Futures CIC
Bridging the gap to opportunity.