Luo Chen's success stems from his dedicated two-year role on the national Speak Up Youth Council (2023-2025). Co-op Academy Stoke-on-Trent engaged in the Speak Up programme, partnering with the National Theatre and local artists to use creative arts to amplify student voices. This collaboration saw Luo Chen and his peers design a special "Collab" clothing range as part of their creative project, demonstrating real-world impact alongside their leadership development. The national programme engaged over 10,200 young people, with evaluators noting the Council's "profound" impact in empowering youth voices.

The symposium marked the end of the project. Luo Chen was one of just fourteen young speakers who addressed an audience of 250 policymakers, funders, and arts professionals from the main stage. His chosen topic was "Young Peoples Mental Health," which he delivered with great passion and commitment.

Ms. Williamson, who oversaw the Speak Up project for our academy, commended his achievement:

“Luo Chen’s dedication to the Speak Up Council and his commanding performance on the National Theatre stage was truly inspiring. He used his voice to advocate for an issue that matters deeply to young people. We are incredibly proud of Luo Chen and what this achievement means for our academy and Stoke-on-Trent.”

You can read more about the project's highlights on the National Theatre website here.