Celebrating our Youth Board on World Youth Skills Day
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board has had its very own Youth Board since November 2018.
Made up of a diverse group of inspiring young people, our Youth Board members give up their free time to help influence changes in the Health Board for other children and young people.
Back in 2018, the Youth Board pledged to the Children’s Commissioner for Wales to embark on embedding the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in to everything we do.
The programme is extremely successful, particularly due to the perspectives it offers and contributions it makes towards the way we shape our services. Their influence has been significant and continues to grow as the benefits of their input become clearer.
15-year-old Ellis Peares has been a member of the Youth Board for just over a year. He is currently studying German, French and I.T for his GCSE’s and is the Welsh Youth Parliament member for Cardiff Central.
Speaking of his role within the Youth Board, Ellis said: “I believe that fighting for young people’s rights is of vital importance.
“When I came out as gay last January, there were lots of things I felt strongly about, including mental health for young people, young people having more of a say in democracy and giving young people a chance to have their say in matters that affect them.
“Our work varies so much, but some examples of work we have done as a Youth Board include making TikTok videos about school nurses, talking to CAMHS doctors to see if young people think the letter they send out are suitable and making short videos on how young people can support a friend going through a tough time.”
Since 2018, the Youth Board has identified key priority areas and has engaged in a series of projects to improve services for young people. Some of the many achievements include:
Contributing to the Sustainable Travel consultation
Identifying ways to increase awareness and uptake of teenage Immunisations
Helping develop ‘Healthy Weight, Healthy Wales’, both in the early days and recently for the Welsh Gov consultation
Advising on content for pre-reg nursing programmes
Developing aspects of CAMHS, from the physical layout and décor at St Davids Hospital to making letters young person friendly.
Designing, developing and populating the new website for children, young people, parents and carers and professionals on emotional wellbeing and mental health
Creating videos for the website
Assisting with the school smoking strategy
Having input on the Safe Staffing levels work
Interviewing new members of staff, including our new CEO Suzanne Rankin!
Taking part in commissioning panels for new services
Helping write and voice a video on Children’s Rights for viewing at induction for all new members of staff
Janczewski, Chair at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, said: “The Youth Board is such a fantastic asset to the Health Board and is a brilliant example of involving young people in the design of services which can directly impact them.
“The work the group have done around emotional wellbeing and mental health will help support so many – thank you to each and every one of you for volunteering your time to support us. Thank you to all of our staff who continue to work and engage with the Youth Board.”
The membership of the group has changed a little as some have moved on to University and employment, but many of the original group remain very active in the Youth Board. It now has more than 20 members aged 14 to 22 who are all trained as official volunteers.
Applications to the part of the Youth Board are currently closed but new opportunities for 2023 will be announced next year.
The Health Board is also exploring further methods of engagement for children and young people who may not want to join a formal group or may be too young to join. Keep an eye on Health Board social media channels for further updates.