A future shaped by young people
In February 2022, Living With Water partnered with the Hull Young People's Parliament (HYPP) to hear from a demographic whose views are rarely sought in infrastructure planning.
Students aged 11 to 18 from schools across Hull, alongside a small group of 18 to 24 year olds, spent a day learning about flooding in their city before being asked five questions about how they want it to look and function in the future.
The HYPP exists to give young people a genuine voice in decisions that shape their lives. This was an opportunity to apply that directly to flood resilience.
How they felt about flooding
Before exploring solutions, we asked how participants would feel during a flood event. Their responses are compiled into our word cloud, reflecting just how big feelings surrounding flooding can be.
Whether feeling worried, scared, or overwhelmed, the emotional weight of flooding is real and any long-term plan needs to take that seriously.
What they want to see
Aid and support
Financial recovery matters. Participants called for charitable donations for those affected, government loans to support recovery and clearer guidance on flood insurance. They also highlighted emotional wellbeing, calling for counselling for those traumatised by flood events and community support groups in affected areas.
Education and awareness
Participants called for better education across schools and communities on emergency flood planning, flood kit preparation, water efficiency and signing up to flood warnings. They suggested delivery through workshops, community information and a practical flood preparation guide.
Future thinking
Participants called for housing to be built and repaired to better withstand flooding, and for sustainable urban drainage systems to play a greater role in the city. Green roofs, permeable paving, swales and rainwater harvesting were all highlighted as priorities.
Greening the city
More green space was a recurring theme, for flood resilience and for quality of life. Converting impermeable wastelands into green areas, planting more trees and creating accessible leisure spaces that absorb rainwater were among the ideas put forward.
What this means for Living With Water
The manifesto reinforces much of what we’re already working to deliver through our Blue-Green Plan. The young people of Hull aren't passive recipients of flood resilience work, they have views, ideas and a stake in what gets built.
