What happens when young people feel a sense of control and imagination over their own lives? Dr Meg Peterson draws on a decade of working with The Agency to share six key lessons about creativity, entrepreneurship, and learning. From the power of collective learning to the importance of an asset-based approach, her reflections offer a fresh perspective on what it really means to harness creativity for social change.

This year marked a bold chapter for The Agency - we have our biggest year yet! We have worked alongside communities to unlock new ideas, dreams, and solutions that young people are bringing to life. Thank you to every Agent, Alumni, staff, partner, panellist, supporter, and friend who has been part of this journey. You are part of the change!

Young people are not the leaders of tomorrow — they are the leaders of today.

This was the central message of The Power of Youth Leadership, an online roundtable hosted by The Agency of Change on 18 November with Alex Holmes OBE (Deputy CEO of The Diana Award / Director of BBC Children in Need), Samuel Remi-Akinwale (CEO of Young Manchester) and Henrietta Imoreh (Careers Consultant for Young People in Care / Participation Manager at Missing People).

In a world of significant change and transformation, economic growth does not mean prosperity for all. As a potential way forward, the concept of degrowth invites us to rethink how growth can be better for ourselves, our environment and our communities. The Agency encourage social innovation through supporting young people from underserved communities to develop projects rooted in local assets, lead change in their communities and drive sustainable futures.

When I started my journey with the Agency, I didn’t expect the tools we share with Agents to become so integral to my own practice as a creative. It’s impossible for me to initiate a new project idea without going back to at least one of the Big Five. The tools have been transformational for my process and are go tos when I’m embarking on new creative journeys.

As The Agency celebrates its tenth anniversary, we are proud to present the findings of our Longitudinal Research spanning 2013-2023. This report highlights the profound impact the programme has had on youth entrepreneurship and community development over the past decade.