You can listen to BBC Radio Sussex

At the project's launch event, young men spoke about the struggles they faced and the urgent need for change.Steven Sabino, 20, a college student hoping to pursue the performing arts, spoke about how racism continued to have an impact on young black men.

"You laugh it off because it's awkward, but inside it stays with you," he said.Meanwhile, Isaac M'Lan, 22, reflected on a perceived lack of opportunity for young people and its consequences."A young person wants to make money, can't find a job, and ends up getting pulled into crime," he explained.

"Yes, they should take responsibility – but we also need to offer them better choices."Young women involved in the programme also called for empathy and understanding of the challenges faced by young men.

Elroina, 16, said: "They're not understood properly and people don't listen to how they feel. We need more spaces like this, definitely."

Klarissa, 11, said she was proud to be part of building something positive.The day before, town centre manager Robyn Bunyan told the town forum she had "no idea" why they were still on.

Some traditions think Christmas decorations should be, or Twelfth Night, at the latest.

Ms Bunyan told the forum they had "probably still walked past that Christmas tree and seen it illuminated today"."I have no idea why it's still on. I've been on the roof, I've tried to turn it off and it's just like Christmas is haunting me," she said.