Spotlight on Heritage – Exploring Heritage Through Young Voices in Leicester
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Heritage isn’t just about old buildings and museum exhibits; it’s also about people, stories, and the way communities grow and change over time. That was the focus of Spotlight on Heritage, recorded at the Haymarket Shopping Centre as part of a youth-led festival organised by Focus. The event brought together young people, volunteers, and community workers to talk about what heritage means to them and how their experiences in Leicester shape their sense of identity.
John Coster and Rob Watson spent the day speaking with young people who have been exploring their own connections to Leicester’s heritage. For some, heritage was something deeply personal, tied to family traditions, culture, and the places that hold special memories. For others, it was a more abstract idea, something they were only just beginning to engage with.
Some of the young people taking part spoke about how Leicester’s long history, stretching back to the Romans, makes the city unique, while others reflected on more recent heritage—festivals, sports, and the everyday experiences that make a place feel like home.
One of the key themes that emerged was how much heritage is shaped by change. The young people involved in the discussion reflected on how different Leicester feels today compared to a generation ago. There was a real sense that while new opportunities have opened up, particularly through technology and social media, there are also challenges. Social media has made it easier to connect with people and find information, but it has also created pressures that weren’t there before. One participant summed it up by asking how young people today can “stay afloat in all the noise.”
The question of support and community spaces also came up throughout the day. Many of the young people expressed concerns about the decline of youth clubs and local services. One youth worker pointed out that when he was younger, there were multiple clubs to choose from every night of the week, but today, many young people only have access to a single session once a week, if at all. That loss of spaces where young people can gather, feel safe, and explore their identity was something that many of the participants were keen to highlight.
Alongside these discussions, there was a real energy in the space as young people got involved in hands-on activities. Whether it was making art, recording interviews, or examining Roman artefacts with an archaeology team, there was a strong sense that heritage comes alive when people can engage with it directly. It’s not just about remembering the past, but about making connections between history and everyday life.
Throughout the conversations, the question of what Leicester will look like in the future kept coming up. Will young people in 2050 feel better supported? Will social media become more of a help than a hindrance? Will there be more spaces where young people can explore their heritage in ways that feel relevant to them? There were no easy answers, but there was a shared hope that by giving young people a platform now, they will be better placed to shape the future of the city in years to come.
For those involved in the event, one of the key takeaways was that heritage isn’t just something to be studied—it’s something to be lived. Whether it’s through music, sport, food, or everyday routines, heritage is created and shaped by the people who call Leicester home. The young people who took part in Spotlight on Heritage weren’t just talking about the past; they were thinking about how they want to be remembered in the future.
If you missed the conversation, you can listen back to the programme on Soar Sound. And if you’ve got thoughts on what heritage means to you, get in touch—we’d love to hear your stories.
