Youth Voice Art Exhibition

Over the past year, a group of young people from rural County Durham have been working on a transport research project exploring how limited and inaccessible transport affects their lives. Through discussions, creative workshops, visits, and research activities, theyve been documenting the real impact transport barriers have on young people living in isolated areas.
The project looks at how poor transport links can affect access to education, employment, social opportunities, healthcare, and creative experiences, as well as the wider impact on independence, confidence, and wellbeing. A big part of the project has been about giving young people the space to speak honestly about how it feels to grow up in places where opportunities can feel physically out of reach.
The group are now planning an immersive art exhibition on 10th July, where theyll share their findings through creative and interactive work designed to help people experience and better understand the realities of rural transport inequality from a young persons perspective.
The project has already sparked a lot of interest, particularly in light of the upcoming bus reform next year. Stakeholders attending the exhibition will include representatives from North East Combined Authority, Arriva, local councillors, and other organisations connected to transport and rural development.