Slough Young Health Champions successes celebrated
The first set of Young Health Champions in Slough have finished their first year, with a set of pilot schools, Baylis, Slough and Eton, Herschel and Wexham taking part. The young people celebrated with an event at The Aspire Centre, attended by various families, professionals and the Mayor of Slough, Councillor Avtar Kaur Cheema.
The group of 15 young people, aged 17, were celebrated for:
• completing a Level 2 qualification accredited by the Royal Society for Public Health
• contributing towards the development of mental health services for young people
• educating peers about mental health and approaches to maintaining their wellbeing.
They will then go back to their schools to promote health messages and recruit other health champions from across the year groups.
A Young Health Champions co-production network has been formed to further develop local participation work with children and young people; as well as the Young Health Champions (YHC) programme which is accredited by the Royal Society of Public Health. The programme is a partnership approach between health, education, Slough Borough Council and Aik Saath.
The programme started in four secondary schools in Slough and is currently being expanded to every school with a sixth form. The project aims to deliver a young people’s led peer education emotional wellbeing programme, and the co-production network will support peer engagement, communication and service design and commissioning.
Mayor of Slough, Councillor Avtar Kaur Cheema, said: “I would like to congratulate the four schools that have taken part - Baylis Court, Herschel Grammar, Slough and Eton and Wexham School. This is a great initiative and I commend both staff and students for their inspiring commitment to this programme, and also family and friends whose support is invaluable.
Congratulations to each of you on your achievement and on receiving your certificate. You are all beacons for other young people and please keep up your good work.”
Janette Fullwood, Head of Children, Young People and Families at the CCG, said: “This programme is a true partnership approach between health, education, the local authority and the voluntary sector and forms a really strong platform for the further development of co-production with young people.”
Sanna Malik, 17, from Slough and Eton School, said: “It has been empowering to make a difference in the local community, providing children and young people with a better understanding of mental health. I hope this helps them in the future, to live healthier, happier lives.”
The group of 15 young people, aged 17, were celebrated for:
• completing a Level 2 qualification accredited by the Royal Society for Public Health
• contributing towards the development of mental health services for young people
• educating peers about mental health and approaches to maintaining their wellbeing.
They will then go back to their schools to promote health messages and recruit other health champions from across the year groups.
A Young Health Champions co-production network has been formed to further develop local participation work with children and young people; as well as the Young Health Champions (YHC) programme which is accredited by the Royal Society of Public Health. The programme is a partnership approach between health, education, Slough Borough Council and Aik Saath.
The programme started in four secondary schools in Slough and is currently being expanded to every school with a sixth form. The project aims to deliver a young people’s led peer education emotional wellbeing programme, and the co-production network will support peer engagement, communication and service design and commissioning.
Mayor of Slough, Councillor Avtar Kaur Cheema, said: “I would like to congratulate the four schools that have taken part - Baylis Court, Herschel Grammar, Slough and Eton and Wexham School. This is a great initiative and I commend both staff and students for their inspiring commitment to this programme, and also family and friends whose support is invaluable.
Congratulations to each of you on your achievement and on receiving your certificate. You are all beacons for other young people and please keep up your good work.”
Janette Fullwood, Head of Children, Young People and Families at the CCG, said: “This programme is a true partnership approach between health, education, the local authority and the voluntary sector and forms a really strong platform for the further development of co-production with young people.”
Sanna Malik, 17, from Slough and Eton School, said: “It has been empowering to make a difference in the local community, providing children and young people with a better understanding of mental health. I hope this helps them in the future, to live healthier, happier lives.”
