Young Healthwatch
Giving young people a voice in Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea
Young Healthwatch is a dedicated team of volunteers and core Healthwatch Central West London staff, committed to listening to young people about what they think of local health and care services and finding out if they meet their needs.
We want all young people living, working, or studying in the area to feel supported by local services so that they can always find the support they need.
We do this by:
- Raising awareness of the different issues that affect young people
- Reaching out to young people in our area, gathering their views on issues that matter to them
- Providing information and resources about local and national support services
- Collaborating with local leaders to improve our local health and social care services
- Developing our team of volunteers, offering training and support to develop their skills as we build our understanding of local issues
“Make sure you have things to look forward to in your day. For me, it is cooking and watching TV. For some of the other volunteers it's listening to music really loudly and dancing, or maybe it is doing extra-curricular things like this. Find what works for you.”
– Thoughts from our volunteers
Meet Alex
Hi, I'm Alex, and I coordinate Young Healthwatch. My role is about ensuring young people's voices are heard in conversations around mental health services, and I want to make sure young people have access to the support they need.
Our team
We are a group of volunteers who live, work, or study in Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea, and surrounding boroughs. We're all passionate about improving mental health support for young people, and making sure local services work for everyone.
News, ideas, events, creative writing, and more...
Report shines a light on possibilities for future mental health provision in Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea
The Voice Exchange was a project we ran throughout 2021 to explore how mental health services in the bi-borough could look in the future. This is what we found out…
Read MoreAn update on COVID-19 vaccinations for children
The COVID-19 vaccine is now being offered to children aged five and over. In this article, we run through everything you need to know.
Read MoreWellbeing Support
Urgent support
A good place to start is with your GP for help with your mental health. If you need immediate help, we've put together a list of some urgent helplines.
Mental wellbeing tips
We've put together a list of resources and useful websites to help you look after your mental wellbeing.
In our 2020 survey, over 80% of respondents identified body image as a key cause of stress for young people.
– Young Healthwatch, Bridging The Gap Survey 2020
Get Involved
Become a volunteer
Spread the word
You can share your experiences and follow what we're up to over on our Instagram page.
Go to Instagram
Follow us on Instagram
This is what research means to Young Healthwatch volunteer, Hussein.
What does it mean to you?
Find out more about our Schools Research Network collaboration in our bio 🔼 and how your school can join @crn.northwestlondon
@imperialcollege
#research #healthresearch #studenthealth #studentwellbeing #wellbeing #younghealth #studentresearch #schoolsresearch #mentalhealthsupport
✅ We have been awarded the NCVO Trusted Charity mark!
This mark demonstrates a commitment to consistently high standards across our organisation. This has been a real team effort and was made possible by the hard work of all our volunteers, board, and staff teams. Thank you 👏
Our young people's survey has highlighted a lack of connection between young people and their GP practices at a time when they need it most.
From over 200 responses from young people living across North West London we found that:
❌ Only 25% of young people would go to their GP for support with their mental wellbeing
❌ 84% of young people felt an impact on their mental health from COVID-19
Read more about our initial findings by following the link in our bio
We are on the lookout for enthusiastic young people to join us as volunteers to champion the health needs of local people across Northwest London. The perfect way to start 2022. Contact us today...
Photo by:
@cristi.tohatan
#volunteerwithus #youngvolunteers #healthwatch #2022 #challenge #joinus
We are piloting an exciting new student engagement project with the North West London Schools Research Network.
The project will gather insights into the health-related needs and interests of local young people.
Stay tuned for updates about the pilot. Find out more:
www.healthwatchcwl.co.uk/young-healthwatch
#mentalwellbeing #healthservices #mentalhealthmatters #pilotproject #workingwithschools #teachers #studenthealth #localresearch
Still unsure about the COVID-19 vaccine? You’re not alone. There are a number of young people who just aren’t quite sure why they need to get jabbed.
Join @CityWestminster @RBKC @ProfKevinFenton @PHE_uk Thursday 5 August from 6.30pm.