Leaders from across the public, private and voluntary sectors came together at Wynyard Hall for the Building Bridges to Success conference — a landmark event focused on creating stronger opportunities for young people across Stockton.
Hosted by the Youth United Stockton Alliance (YUSA), the conference brought together youth organisations, businesses, and civic leaders to explore how partnership working can improve outcomes for young people and build more inclusive pathways into education, training, and employment.
A shared commitment to young people
Opening the event, the Worshipful the Mayor of Stockton-on-Tees welcomed delegates and highlighted the importance of collaboration in creating opportunity.
He emphasised that success relies on strong connections — between education and employment, between talent and opportunity, and between organisations working across sectors. The conference theme, Building Bridges to Success, reflected the need to strengthen these relationships to support young people effectively.
Youth work recognised as a vital investment
A central message throughout the day was the importance of youth work as both a social and economic investment.
Councillor Clare Besford, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, highlighted how youth work transforms lives by building trusted relationships, supporting confidence, and helping young people develop the skills they need for the future. She also reinforced the wider economic case, noting that early intervention reduces long-term pressures on services and supports stronger, more resilient communities.
Strengthening collaboration across the sector
The event marked an important milestone for YUSA, which has played a key role in strengthening the youth sector across Stockton through coordination, partnership working, and increased engagement.
Over the past year, YUSA has expanded its networks, supported workforce development, and helped align services across key priorities including early help, public health, and community safety. The conference demonstrated how this collaborative approach is continuing to grow, bringing more partners into the conversation — particularly businesses.
Businesses encouraged to play a leading role
A strong focus of the conference was on the role of businesses in supporting young people and contributing to community development.
Guest speaker Michael Poole DL JP, Vice-Lord Lieutenant of County Durham, highlighted that investing in youth provision should be seen as a long-term investment rather than a cost. He encouraged businesses to engage more actively, whether through mentoring, funding, or creating employment opportunities.
He also shared powerful examples of how relatively small interventions can have significant, life-changing impacts — describing this as a clear “return on investment” in young people’s futures.
Moving from CSR to long-term partnership
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) was prominently reflected throughout the day, with Catalyst demonstrating the practical ways businesses are contributing to their communities. Through initiatives such as mentoring programmes, employee volunteering, and the development of skills, organisations are not only supporting individuals but also creating lasting social impact. These efforts highlight how businesses can play an active role in driving positive change while strengthening connections with the communities they serve.
However, the message was clear that there is potential to go further. The conference emphasised the need to move beyond one-off activity and towards long-term, strategic partnerships, where businesses and youth organisations work together to design and deliver meaningful opportunities.
A focus on the future
Workshops held during the day explored practical topics including education, employment pathways, apprenticeships, and communication, helping to turn ideas into actionable next steps.
There was strong agreement on the need to:
- Strengthen collaboration between sectors
- Create clearer pathways for young people
- Improve access to opportunities
- Ensure young people’s voices are central to future plans
Building momentum for change
The conference concluded with a clear message: the foundations for success are already in place, with strong youth organisations, committed partners, and a business community ready to engage.
The challenge now is to build on this momentum — turning conversations into action and developing partnerships that deliver long-term impact.
As organisers highlighted, Building Bridges to Success is not a one-day event, but the starting point for ongoing collaboration aimed at improving opportunities and outcomes for young people across the borough.