Where Possible Happens 2026: Bringing our region together to create brighter futures

Almost 120 people came together at Chester Racecourse for our Where Possible Happens 2026 conference, united by a shared commitment to creating better opportunities for young people.

On Thursday 15 October, we welcomed representatives from business, education, public services and the community to Where Possible Happens 2026: Leading the Region’s Response to the National NEET Crisis.

Organised by The Petty Pool Trust, the conference explored how we can work together to support young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), with a focus on earlier intervention, inclusive employment and creating more accessible pathways into education, training and work.

With almost one million young people aged 16–24 across the UK estimated to be NEET, the need for meaningful action is clear. For young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), who can face additional barriers to education and employment, these conversations are especially important.

Powerful conversations and shared perspectives

Throughout the day, we heard from an inspiring range of speakers and panellists, including representatives from the University of Chester, Chester Zoo, Storyhouse, The Dome Youth Zone, WeMindTheGap and Youth Employment UK, alongside our own Petty Pool specialists.

Young people’s voices were at the heart of the event, including a memorable conversation between Eve H, founder of Let’s Make A Difference, and Kathryn Porter from Petty Pool, highlighting why listening to young people is so important when shaping the opportunities available to them.

Dan Price opened the conference by setting out the scale of the NEET challenge, both nationally and across our region, highlighting the importance of working together to improve opportunities for young people.

Our headline speaker, Oly Newton, founder of LightsOnXP, brought a powerful personal perspective to the day. A lived-experience speaker and mental health advocate who has shared his story with more than 100,000 people worldwide, Oly drew on his own experiences to highlight the importance of understanding, early support and ensuring young people feel heard, valued and able to reach their potential.

The importance of inclusion also resonated with Zilfi Karakor, a University of Chester student who attended the conference:

“The conference was a fantastic reminder that inclusion goes beyond simply providing opportunities; it’s about recognising individual potential, removing barriers and ensuring every young person has a genuine chance to succeed. Seeing so many professionals committed to making a difference was both inspiring and encouraging.”

Seven of our Petty Pool learners also played an important role in the day, working alongside the catering team at Chester Racecourse. While delegates discussed the importance of creating meaningful opportunities for young people, our learners were putting their skills into practice and gaining valuable hands-on experience.

Turning conversations into action

While the day was full of inspiring conversations and ideas, the real impact will come from what happens next.

Sally Garratt, Chief Executive Officer of The Petty Pool Trust, said: “We brought people together because we know that no single organisation can solve this challenge alone. What was so encouraging was the collective determination in the room to make a difference.

“But the real measure of success will be what happens next. We want the conversations and connections made at this conference to lead to meaningful action, stronger partnerships and more opportunities for young people across our region.”

Thank you for being part of it

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us, shared their experiences and helped make the day such a success.

We’re especially grateful to our speakers, panellists, delegates and young people, as well as our sponsors and supporters, including the University of Chester, Cheshire & Warrington Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), Spectra Media and NXTWEB Agency.

The conference may be over, but the conversation doesn’t end here.

We look forward to building on the connections made and working together to create more opportunities for young people across Cheshire and beyond.