Sharrow Community Forum Speak Up
Download (PDF 574.45 KB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch Sheffield gave a small grant to Sharrow Community Forum to gather the views of 22 young people aged 10–19 about health, mental health, and SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) services.
The project used informal outdoor sessions and conversations to create a relaxed environment where young people could openly share their experiences.
Young people reported that supportive school environments, particularly in primary school, worked well when they included dedicated SEND teams, safe spaces, and key workers who listened and helped them manage emotions.
However, the report highlights several significant barriers and challenges. Young people described very long waiting times for SEND and autism diagnoses, sometimes lasting years, which delayed access to help. They also felt there was often little or no support before a formal diagnosis, leaving many struggling without assistance.
Many young people experienced gaps in support when moving from school to college, where services were unclear and environments felt overwhelming. They also reported feeling dismissed or not believed by adults, who sometimes minimised their mental health concerns or labelled them negatively.
The report shows that young people face significant pressures, including academic expectations, social challenges, and fear of judgement, which strongly affect their mental wellbeing.
Young people said improvements should include shorter waiting times, better access to support without needing a diagnosis, and more personalised, respectful care where adults genuinely listen to them.
They also wanted safe, youth-friendly community spaces, such as wellbeing cafés and informal drop-in centres, where they could relax, socialise, and access support in a non-clinical setting.
In addition, the report found that awareness of services is low, and communication should be improved using platforms young people use, such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
Overall, the report concludes that while some positive support exists, especially earlier in education, systemic issues remain around access, delays, transitions, and feeling heard, and it recommends increasing capacity, providing interim support, improving transitions, creating youth-led spaces, and ensuring professionals listen and communicate effectively.