Our L!STEN Wellbeing Festival 2026!
As the summer holidays drew to a close, the L!STEN group brought young people together for its annual Wellbeing Festival — a day designed to provide inclusive, positive activities and create a welcoming space for young people at what can be a particularly tricky time of year.
Taking place towards the end of the six-week summer holidays, and just one day before GCSE results day, the festival provided an opportunity for young people to connect with others, try something new, have fun and access information and support in a relaxed environment.
The event was made possible through the brilliant collaboration of a number of local organisations, each bringing something different to the day.
A day full of opportunities
Easy Peel joined us with creative pottery taster sessions, giving young people the chance to get hands-on and try their hand at making something themselves. They also kept everyone fuelled with freshly made pizza — always a welcome addition to any festival!
Stockport Council colleagues also played an important role in the day. Steve Davies spoke to young people about the Youth Council, exploring how they can get involved and use their voices to make a difference in their local community.
Laura Howarth introduced young people to Stockport's Climate and Nature Strategy, creating opportunities for valuable conversations about the environment and, importantly, how young people can play their part in shaping positive change.
Sector 3 focused on volunteering, talking to young people about the different opportunities available across Stockport and introducing them to the Stockport Volunteer Hub.
The L!STEN ACT CHANGE team created space for conversations around mental health, exploring the stigma that can sometimes surround mental health and encouraging young people to have open and honest conversations about how we can better support ourselves and each other.
Flourish CIC brought a pop-up spa to the festival, offering free taster massages and giving young people the chance to slow down, relax and take some time for themselves.
Arc also joined us to showcase their creative programmes for young people, giving attendees the opportunity to find out more about the creative opportunities available locally and how they can get involved.
Something for everyone
Alongside the workshops and conversations, there was a huge range of activities for young people to get involved in throughout the day.
From face painting, smoothie making and jewellery making, to outdoor activity challenges, there was plenty to keep everyone entertained. The ever-popular lucky dip added a little extra excitement, while our very own crochet queen, Victoria, ran a crochet stall showcasing her creativity and giving young people the opportunity to have a go themselves.
The variety of activities was intentional. We wanted to create a space where young people could simply have fun, meet new people and enjoy themselves, while also having opportunities to learn, ask questions and engage with organisations working across Stockport.
Creating spaces where young people can thrive
The L!STEN Wellbeing Festival is a great example of what can happen when organisations come together with a shared commitment to improving opportunities for young people.
Wellbeing isn't just about having conversations about mental health. It's also about connection, creativity, having fun, feeling heard, trying new things and knowing where to turn for support.
At a time when some young people may have been feeling nervous about returning to school or, for Year 11 students, preparing for GCSE results day, the festival provided a positive space to come together and enjoy the final days of the summer holidays.
A huge thank you to every organisation, volunteer and individual who contributed to the day. A special thank you to Saz Media for capturing the photos and video of the day. Most importantly, thank you to all the young people who came along, got involved and helped make the festival such a positive and inclusive event.
We can't wait to do it all again next year!
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