Young Listeners project: sharing young people’s feedback to improve the health and social care services they use

At the beginning of 2021, Healthwatch Somerset recruited nine young volunteers, aged between 12 and 18, to be its Young Listeners. Healthwatch Somerset promoted the opportunity widely to all young people aged 11 to 24 living in Somerset, via social media, press, radio, and through its own local networks. It also contacted every secondary school and college in the county.

The Young Listeners, with guidance form the Youth Engagement officer, decided what training what help them with the project and their futures. Between March and July 2021, the Youth Engagement Officer led them through a comprehensive 12-week training programme.

Via community events, online meetings and an online survey, the Young Listeners engaged 65 young people by the end of September 2021. Key findings were a lack of communication between services about young people’s health and wellbeing, services not communicating effectively with young people, lack of information or education about health and social care in schools, and services not promoting themselves in a way that is accessible to, or inclusive of, young people.

The report gives 5 recommendations, based on these findings.