Some of the young people from ‘Nothing About Us Without Us’ advisory group pose for a group photo after picking up awards for their work and influence
Young volunteers from the Nothing About Us Without Us Children and Young People’s Mental Health Advisory Group have received awards for their contribution to improving mental health services and supporting children and young people.
The Volunteen Youth Voice Awards – supported by East Riding of Yorkshire Council and coordinated by Community VISION as part of its Volunteen Voice project – celebrate young people’s voice and influence work in the East Riding.
The 12 lived experience volunteers actively lead the Nothing About Us Without Us advisory group, with more than 300 members representing a wide range of communities, needs, and experiences, informing services in both the East Riding of Yorkshire and across Humber and North Yorkshire.
Amongst other achievements, Aimee Jones, Ryan Laybourne, Kaitlin Oldfield, Keiron Harris, Robin Cook, Christina Moore, Robert Mooney, Helena Otter, Lulu Halloum, Maddie Lofthouse, Poppy Pacy, and Anya Tovey, have collectively:
- Coproduced the Humber-and-North-Yorkshire-wide ‘On Your Terms’ Children and Young People’s Participation Strategy with a wide range of Place-based partners and young people
- Designed and delivered training on the Lundy Model of Participation to frontline staff and senior leaders
- Co-facilitated workshops on children and young people’s coproduction at the Humber and North Yorkshire Children and Young People’s Trauma Informed Care Programme’s Annual Conference
- Planned and delivered two system-wide events in the last year, bringing young people and senior leaders together to progress the group’s 50 recommendations for improving access to mental health services and support
- Delivered several local events with young people and leaders to identify Place-based priorities and inform action plans
- Coproduced a mental health passport app
- Informed the new NHS 10 Year Plan
- Contributed to NHS England’s School Food Resource pack to support education staff to better understand and cater for the needs of children and young people with ARFID and other food related challenges
- Coproduced the ‘Listen to Us’ training animation and guide on Trusted Adults, with Humber Violence Prevention Partnership, for staff working in children and young people’s services
- Coproduced the ‘See Me Too’ staff training animation, with Youth Aspire Connect, on children and young people’s experiences of racism with children and young people’s services
Clair Atherton, the Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership’s Children and Young People’s Engagement and Coproduction Manager, said: “These young people have made a significant contribution to shaping mental health priorities for children and young people and fully deserve the recognition they received at the Volunteen Youth Voice Awards.”
For more information on ‘Nothing About Us Without Us’ email Be.Heard@nhs.net or watch their short film here: Nothing About Us Without Us