Background

The Core Cities group is a network of England's major regional cities: Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield. They form the economic and urban cores of wider surrounding territories, the city regions, and are the economic drivers of their regions. Although the cities have unique cultural and economic features, they also face some common challenges and share common aspirations.

Objectives

The game was played as the main component of the Core Cities Youth Summit, which brought together young people from each of the eight Core Cities. Teams were challenged to come up with ideas that could be implemented in any of the cities and that would contribute to improving the environment, active citizenship or transport. The voting panel included representatives from all eight city councils. The winning ideas will be presented at the Core Cities summit in Liverpool in November 2009, where they will be considered for trials by city councils.

Winning idea

National City Card

The winning team presented the case for a national bus card for young people that would enable them to travel at a reduced rate in any city in England. As well as giving young people greater access to cities, the card would help convert a generation to using buses, which would have longer-term benefits for the environment and for the bus companies. If young people misbehaved on buses, the card could be taken away, which could help reduce anti-social behaviour on buses. A similar scheme has already proven to be successful in London, and this would bring the eight Core Cities in line with the capital.

Winning ideas from the other teams

Urban Jungle

Hedgerows, trees and even fast-growing maize would be used to create a city-maze, which would be a focal point for music, theatre and entertainment. The maze would bring the countryside to the city and would provide a place for relaxation after work. Covered areas would allow the maze to be enjoyed come rain or shine, and the maze could be re-designed quickly and easily to keep it challenging.

Envira-hub

Eco-hubs would provide a local, one-stop shop for all your recycling and environmental needs. Bicycle repair workshops, allotments, a café selling local produce and recycling facilities, would be available at the heart of communities. Linking all the hubs would be an eco-street in the city which would house a world renowned research centre on alternative energies, a unique, high class eco-hotel and other enterprises that encourage greener living.

City Life Buses

This innovative idea would make buses a place for learning, for socialising and for relaxing. A limited number of double-decker buses in the city would be adapted to make space for drinks vending machines and information stands to tell passengers about the events and support open to them. This would help encourage more people to use buses and would create a space for people from different generations to mix and socialise.

Your Style, Your Talent, Your City

Many communities already have festivals, but community talent shows would help all members of the community celebrate their skills. The talent shows would bring the whole community together and would help people appreciate each other’s skills and talents, regardless of age, race, religion or gender. Talent shows would be organised locally by the community, for the community. Areas of the cities could also put on joint shows to help challenge some of the divides that can separate one area of the city from another.

Super Community Centres

The super community centres would provide a range of services for the community and would be a place for residents of all ages and backgrounds to meet. The centres would offer opportunities for relaxation, learning, sport, entertainment and health care, and would provide a focal point for the community. Hosting youth groups and activities for older people in the same space would help challenge stereotypes and would encourage a greater sense of community. The centres would help increase access to advice services, which could help improve the quality of life for the whole community.