The Coolest Conference of 2025
When I first heard of the 2025 Integrate conference in Clevedon I was super excited as the one in 2023 was so so fun. It was on a Friday so we got to miss out on school (which was a huge bonus)!
It didn’t take too long to get there from school and my friends and I were all buzzing to be in the Curzon theatre; it was so big and classy! Loads of school kids kept walking in and filling up seats, I could hear loads of laughter and everyone was super excited to be there.
When I first saw my face projected in the centre of the stage, I couldn’t believe it and I felt like a movie star or something. Best feeling ever! The hosts were really great at introducing each performance, it was like watching Britain’s Got Talent! One of the first performances was this AMAZING singer called Eleanor who had an incredible voice. I was blown away by all of the people who performed- especially the speeches people gave that were so inspiring and empowering to listen to.
For lunch, we were given this really yummy curry. The thing I definitely love about Integrate is all the free food they give us!!! It was so nice to talk to all the interesting people from other schools and chill out for a bit. I even bought some lush earrings that one of the young people hand made herself- and it was so cool seeing how many people were buying the clitoris merch during the breaks!
After lunch, there was a panel discussion which was so captivating to listen to, I was totally zoned into everyone’s thoughts and opinions and – even though I wasn’t speaking on stage, I felt like I was part of the conversation. I was so so proud of my friend Scarlett who addressed such important issues in front of all the young people and important adults who were in the audience.
Watching the music video: “Butt naked” I was involved in on the big screen was probably the highlight of my day. Not only did everyone get to listen to it, but at the end Rhi even led a karaoke version in which everyone got their phone torches out and started singing along! COOLEST THING EVER! It was so nice seeing everyone have so much fun being free and young!
If it wasn’t already good enough, the day was topped by a mini rewards ceremony where I got a certificate and shook the hand of the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset up on stage! I was a bit nervous at first walking up there but I felt so happy and appreciated to have gotten it.
Thank you so much to everyone involved in Integrate for making it possible for me to come and spend the day in the theatre, I had such a great time there!
With that I say, if you get the chance to be involved with Integrate – definitely take it!!!
Integrate UK Young Activist
