Improving Healthwatch Barnet's communication with young people

This report summarises a collaborative project between Healthwatch Barnet and two MSc students from Middlesex University in 2018. The project explored how Healthwatch Barnet could improve its communication and engagement with young people aged 18 to 30, particularly students studying at Middlesex University. 

The project arose from concerns that younger people may be less aware of Healthwatch Barnet because many of the organisation’s activities focus on health and social care issues affecting older adults. The project also recognised that Middlesex University has a significant international student population who may be less familiar with the NHS and local healthcare services. 

The students designed and distributed a survey that was completed by 65 students. Most respondents were aged between 18 and 23, around 60% lived in Barnet, and 41% were either European Union or international students. The research found that social media use was very high, with 63 of the 65 respondents using social media and 60% accessing it several times a day. Facebook was the most widely used platform, while Twitter was significantly less popular. 

Students reported that they preferred receiving health information through visual formats such as photographs, graphics and videos. Photos and pictures were the most popular type of content, closely followed by videos. 

Awareness of Healthwatch Barnet among respondents was extremely low. Only three of the 65 students surveyed had heard of the organisation. Views on Healthwatch Barnet’s website and social media presence were mixed, with fewer than half of respondents finding the website appealing and similar results reported for its Facebook and Twitter pages. 

The students recommended that Healthwatch Barnet expand its use of social media platforms, particularly Instagram, and make greater use of visual and interactive content that would be more attractive to younger audiences. They also suggested creating a YouTube presence, using imagery that better reflected younger age groups, and strengthening engagement with students through ongoing collaboration with Middlesex University and attendance at university events. 

Healthwatch Barnet welcomed the findings and identified several positive outcomes from the project. It committed to developing its communications strategy to better engage younger audiences, established stronger links with Middlesex University and its wellbeing services, and began collaborating with the university to produce healthcare information for students. This included developing guidance explaining local healthcare services, when they should be used, and how students could access them.