Young people will be put at the centre of a free Darlington event bringing local organisations together to look at practical ways of reducing loneliness and strengthening belonging.
Belong Darlington 2026 takes place at Hopetown on Saturday 19 September from noon until 4pm. It is being organised by FC Darlington Locomotives as part of the Belong Collective, in with UK Youth and Youth Focus North East.
The invitation is broad. Businesses, schools, colleges, charities, community organisations, health partners and local decision-makers are being encouraged to attend alongside young people themselves.
Rather than treating loneliness as something one service can fix on its own, the session is intended to build connections between organisations that can affect different parts of a young person’s life. The programme includes hearing directly from young people, exploring volunteering, mentoring and employability opportunities, and identifying ways organisations can work together.
One practical will be work on a Belong Darlington Pledge, intended to turn the discussion into shared commitments for the town. Darlington Borough Council says the event will also look at how organisations can help young people feel connected, valued and supported.
The wider local picture already includes the Darlington Youth Partnership, a network focused on youth voice, collaboration and opportunities for young people to belong and contribute. Tees Valley YMCA describes that partnership as a collective working towards better for young people across Darlington.
Attendance at Belong Darlington is free, with lunch and refreshments provided, although places are limited. Full details and the registration route are published on Darlington Borough Council’s Workforce Development page. Background on the town’s wider youth partnership is available from Tees Valley YMCA.