Earlestown
We partnered with St Helens Council to setup and run a Teenage Market event in Earlestown Market in December 2024, which gave a platform to 20 young traders selling a wide range of gifts in time for the festive period. Over 400 products were sold which included 3D printed products, a range of Christmas themed plushies and a varied amount of jewellery.
Two local colleges were actively involved in the event which included Carmel College and Ascent Autism Specialist College. Speaking about their involvement, Joanna Grimes, Senior Teaching Assistance, said that “The Teenage Market was a great opportunity for our students to develop real resilience and build on their creative skills in preparation for the workplace.”
Collectively, the young traders made over £2,800 with the average trader taking home £110. Providing a free platform, however, is so important to many of these traders, as a number would have lost money if they were asked to pay a pitch fee. Instead, they walk away having made some cash and having learned a lot from the experience of trading at the market.
In addition to the young traders, The Teenage Market in Earlestown provided a platform to a number of young performers. This included 30 performers from Stagecoach, who all had the opportunity to individually perform, as well as part of a group. A young band from St Helens College also had the opportunity to play their first gig in front of a crowd and even one of our young traders decided to get on the mic. The value of the performances in creating a festival atmosphere was frequently mentioned by visitors.
The event was really well received by the traders that took part, with many commenting on the “helpful staff” which made them feel welcome and supported.
When responding to a post-event survey, 85% said that their confidence had improved as a result of taking part in the event and 95% wanted to see another event in Earlestown.
Traders like 18 year-old Summer Topping commented that, “we are the future, so it’s lovely to experience what it's like to have stall for a day at a market" and 13 year-old Mille said that “the events provide me with a huge confidence boost and a more positive outlook on the future.”
Another trader, 18 year-old Latoya Likambi, described how the event helped to “boost confidence, social skills and support young business owners to connect with new markets”. After experiencing a successful day of trading at the event, Latoya has signed up to be a regular trader at Earlestown Market.