Rugby Springs to Life with an Easter Teenage Market
Rugby town centre was brought to life this Easter weekend, with the whole high street transformed into a vibrant hub of creativity, community and commerce thanks to the talents of local young people.
Place For Youth partnered with Rugby Borough Council and Warwickshire County Council to bring a Teenage Market to the town as part of a wider programme of Easter-themed activity. As part of the market offer, a fantastic group of young traders took over the high street, showcasing their products, building confidence and connecting with local customers.
The results were incredibly impressive:
💷 Over £1,800 earned by young traders
🛍️ More than 600 products sold
Most of the young people taking part in the event were local to Rugby, with others travelling in from towns across Warwickshire, creating a dynamic mix of talent and ideas. From handmade crafts and jewellery to baked goods and original creations, the market highlighted the incredible entrepreneurial spirit of young people when given the opportunity to shine.
⚡ A Town Centre Full of Energy
The Teenage Market formed part of a wider programme of Easter-themed, family-friendly activity across Rugby town centre. Visitors were able to enjoy:
🎶 Live music performances
💃 Free dance and art workshops
🪵 Wood carving demonstrations
🛒 A wide range of market stalls
Together, these activities created a lively, welcoming atmosphere that brought people into the town centre and encouraged them to stay, explore and engage.
This is exactly what we mean when we talk about putting young people at the heart of placemaking, making them active contributors to the life and economy of their town.
💯 Building Confidence, Creativity and Connection
For many of the young traders, the event was about much more than sales. It was an opportunity to meet like-minded people, develop new skills and gain real-world experience in a supportive environment.
💬 “I loved the opportunity to meet other people my age who enjoyed creating like me and discovering the different things I can make.”
— Phillippa, aged 12
💬 “All of the staff were so kind and supportive but still treated us like adults, and helped us to make the most of the event.”
— Ava, aged 16
💬 “It was really well organised, loved the set up and would do it again.”
— Jacob, aged 11
💬 “I’m looking forward to more Teenage Markets!”
— Amara-Rose, aged 10
These experiences are at the core of what we aim to do at Place for Youth; create accessible, low-risk opportunities for young people to test ideas, build confidence and take their first steps into business.
🤝 Partnership in Action
Events like this are made possible through strong local partnerships.
We’d like to extend a huge thank you to Rugby Borough Council for organising a brilliant programme of activity that brought the town centre to life, and to Warwickshire County Council for providing the opportunity for our young traders to take part free of charge.
Removing barriers to participation is crucial in ensuring that opportunities like this are open to all young people, regardless of background.
L-R: Joe Barratt (Place For Youth), Megan Kelly (Rugby Council), Scarlet Barratt (Place For Youth), Audrey Brown (Warwickshire County Council)
🔭 Looking Ahead
The success of the Rugby Easter event demonstrates the powerful role that young people can play in shaping vibrant, inclusive town centres.
When given the right platform, support and encouragement, young people don’t just participate, they lead, create and inspire.
We’re excited to work with Warwickshire County Council to bring more Teenage Market events to towns across the county, supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs and creatives.
👉 Interested in bringing a Teenage Market to your town? Get in touch with us to find out more by emailing hello@placeforyouth.org