Quiet Teens in Liskeard Are Being Asked What They Actually Want

A new youth group is opening its doors in Liskeard next week, and rather than turning up with a packed schedule of activities, the organisers are handing the planning over to the young people themselves.

Quiet Connections, the Cornwall-based community organisation, is launching a group for young people in Year Groups 10 to 13 from September 2026 who identify as quiet, introverted, shy, or highly sensitive. The first gathering takes place on Friday 12th June 2026 from 6:45pm to 8:45pm in the Wheal Phoenix Room at Liskeard Public Hall.

A Group Shaped by the People It’s For

The first session will not follow a traditional format. There are no icebreakers, no warm-up games, and no agenda set in advance. Instead, attendees are being invited to share what crafts and activities they would actually want to do, and to talk about what might make it easier for them to come back.

Hayley Stanton, Director of Quiet Connections, said the group exists because traditional social spaces do not always work for quieter people.

“We know that traditional social gatherings can sometimes feel overwhelming as a quieter person, and you can feel ‘on the outside’ at times. Our Meet Ups are designed to offer a warm and supportive space where people can engage in ways that feel comfortable. We want this youth group to be shaped by the very people it is for, starting from day one,” Hayley said.

“I Thought I Was Socially Inept”

The group is being facilitated by Quiet Connector Ellie Zalick, who has spoken about her own experience of secondary school.

“For a while I accepted these things, feeling I was socially inept, dysfunctional and believing I had to learn to be loud to be confident. But over time, I have learnt this isn’t true. I can be quietly confident, I can thrive in conversations when given the space and time I need,” Ellie said.

“It is important to me that quieter people have a space where they can connect with likeminded people, where they feel accepted for who they are and comfortable in their own quiet skin.”

What to Expect on the Night

There will be no expectation to speak, prepare anything in advance, or have answers ready. Attendees can join in, listen, or simply sit and get a feel for the space. An anonymous idea board will also be available for anyone who prefers to share thoughts in writing, either during the session or in their own time.

The group is free to attend. Young people who cannot make the first session but still want to put forward ideas can get in touch directly.

Full details are available on the Quiet Connections youth group page, or by emailing [email protected]. Anyone aged 18 or over interested in the wider Liskeard Meet Up can find details on the main site.