Youth Bridges Budapest tested the “Murals of Budapest – Past and Future” trail with a bilingual group walk through the city’s District VIII during the European Week of Sport. The walk aimed to make Hungarian culture more accessible to international residents through local street art. Participants explored murals, recalled childhood memories and discussed what the stories depicted on the walls mean for society today. Combining physical activity with shared reflection, the walk also invited participants to imagine the kind of society they would like to help shape.

Ten participants joined a pilot walk along the coastal area of Sferracavallo and Barcarello in Italy as part of the UYM-CITY project. Despite challenging weather, the activity was well received, providing an opportunity to test one of the newly developed city trails in practice. The Italian team has now drafted all its trails, with further refinements planned following the next stakeholder consultation.

Five draft CITY Inclusion Trails around Nitra took shape through close cooperation between OTI Slovakia and experienced local trail-marking professionals. During an online stakeholder consultation, the routes - each with its own theme - were reviewed in terms of accessibility, safety, storytelling, reflection activities and adaptation to different needs. Stakeholders also advised the team on selecting two trails for pilot implementation and discussed practical issues such as logistics, weather and route accessibility. The consultation opened further opportunities to involve local schools and the Nitra trail-marking community in implementation, testing and follow-up evaluation. 

Youth Bridges Budapest brought together five professionals working in youth work, inclusion, non-formal education and urban development for a stakeholder consultation meeting in Budapest. Participants explored the barriers that may prevent young people from joining outdoor and community-based activities and discussed how the CITY Inclusion Trails can become accessible, engaging and socially meaningful experiences. Their insights highlighted the importance of involving young people in the design process, providing clear and predictable information, and combining walking with storytelling, playful activities, local connections and opportunities for active participation.

OTI Slovakia invited project staff and local trail-marking experts for an online stakeholder consultation focused on the development of the CITY Inclusion Trails in Nitra. Participants reviewed existing educational and hiking routes, explored potential urban, cultural and nature-based trail concepts, and discussed how accessibility, local heritage and experiential learning could be integrated into their design. The consultation highlighted the importance of short, well-structured routes with interactive tasks, reflection points and team challenges, as well as involving young people, schools, sport clubs and community organisations in testing and further development.

Can we motivate young people with fewer opportunities to become more active? This was one of the key questions explored during the stakeholder consultation meeting in Palermo, Italy. Experts in youth work, sport and social inclusion shared their perspectives and practical experience, helping us make the future CITY Inclusion Trails more accessible, engaging and inclusive for all young people. 

MAD for Europe brought together youth, sport and inclusion professionals in Madrid for a stakeholder consultation meetings to discuss the foundations of the CITY Inclusion Trails. Participants shared their expertise, provided valuable feedback on the proposed methodology, and explored how urban walking can become a powerful tool for inclusion, physical activity and community engagement. Their ideas will help ensure that the trails respond to real local needs and are accessible, engaging and meaningful for young people.

Partner organisations selected and analysed 12 inspiring best practices on urban walks and social inclusion from across Europe. This research helped us better understand what makes an inclusive and engaging urban trail, while providing plenty of inspiring ideas for developing the CITY Inclusion Trails. The findings will directly support the next phase of the project, as we begin co-creating trails that encourage physical activity, storytelling, community engagement and accessible urban experiences for young people.

Representatives of the partner organisations met in Palermo, Italy for the official kick-off meeting of the project. During the meeting, the partners discussed the project methodology, timeline, responsibilities, and upcoming activities, while also strengthening their cooperation for the next 18 months. To experience the project concept firsthand, we also enjoyed an inspiring walk through the streets of Palermo, exploring the city together from the perspective of inclusive urban mobility.