Speak Up: Element Society
This year's Speak Up grants all focus on the voices and experiences of children and young people in Sheffield.
Element Society is a youth-led charity based in Sheffield that empowers young people to create positive change in their lives and communities
They used their Speak Up grant to run youth-led engagement about navigating health and social care services as a teenager. Feedback and discussion included experiences across GPs, mental health support, neurodiversity, communication with services, and more.
Key findings
Key messages from the young people at Element Society included:
- Young people can find healthcare environments intimidating and unclear. Friendly communication, staff introducing themselves, and straightforward explanations of processes and choices can help.
- Young people felt mental health support in schools was declining, and long waits for other services led to inconsistent support.
- Neurodivergent young people often felt dismissed or misunderstood by support services.
- Stigma can keep young people from asking questions or seeking sexual health support and information.
Read the full findings in the report below, along with the young people's top tips for designing a youth-friendly service.
Downloads
If you need this report in a different format, please email info@healthwatchsheffield.co.uk or call 0114 253 6688.
