About Young Healthwatch
Young Healthwatch does EXACTLY the same as Healthwatch Thurrock……….. but for children and young people. Children and young people’s views are just important as adults – we can’t let them make all the decisions!
We really want to hear from children and young people about what works and what doesn’t work so well for them in relation to Health and Social Care.
What can I do as a Young HW Ambassador?
A Young Healthwatch Thurrock Ambassador is an active volunteer for Young Healthwatch. As an Ambassador, you will represent Young Healthwatch within your communities, friends and peers.
You are KEY to us here at Healthwatch Thurrock to ensure that we listen and learns from the voices and experience of children and young people in the area.
What will I be doing?
You will be part of the Young Healthwatch Thurrock Ambassador group:
- Helping to influence our work that aims to improve Health and Social Care services for children and young people.
- Being involved in projects to gather views about children and young people’s experiences of Health and Social Care services.
- Helping advise Healthwatch Thurrock and other services about how they can be more ‘child and young people friendly’.
- Acting as a role model for young people’s involvement by helping us talk to and listen to children and young people.
Young Healthwatch Thurrock ambassador roles?
- Storyteller - create a blog or video about your experiences of health and care.
- Listener - listen to the experiences of others.
- Young Ambassador - spread the word of Healthwatch Thurrock and empower others to speak out.
- Media Guru - help us reach more young people.
- Influencer - talk to us about what we should be working on.
Benefits for volunteering
- You’ll meet new people.
- Boost your skills and knowledge.
- Get training and support.
- Add valuable experience to your CV.
- Receive a certificate about the hours you’ve volunteered.
- We’ll fit in around your schedule. You can give as much or as little time as you’d like.
Do you have ideas you’d like to share with us?
Whether you’d like help to promote conversation about a specific health & social care issue, or you’d like to set up a focus group with your peers – we can help! We’d love to hear what’s important to you.
Drop us an email: admin@healthwatchthurrock.org
We want your feedback!
Share any comments, compliments or concerns about a local health & social care service here.
Local and national services for children and young people
Local services:
Brook - Free, confidential sexual health services for everyone in Thurrock. Access contraception, STI testing, emergency contraception and more.
Family hubs - Brighter Futures family hubs – formerly children's centres – support families with children of ages 0 to 18 years-old, or to 25 years-old for young people with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).
Thurrock young carers - Young Carers are young people who live in a family where someone is affected by a long term illness, disability, mental health issues, alcohol and / or substance misuse or HIV. The Young Carers Service supports Young Carers aged 8-18 years old.
MIND – positive pathways - The Positive Pathways Service supports adults in the community on a short-term basis to stay well and thrive. We accept professional referrals from GP surgeries, Mental Health Practitioners, Social Prescribers and NHS Community Mental Health Teams.
MIND – Youthful wellbeing - The Youthful Wellbeing Service provides early intervention support for young adults aged 18-25 who are experiencing mental health problems.
Thurrock youth cabinet - Thurrock Youth Cabinet is a group of young people aged 11 to 18 – or up to 25 with special educational needs or disabilities – who work to make Thurrock a better place for young people. It is run by young people, for young people.
Shaw trust - We empower people from childhood to career through our services embracing employability, education, learning and skills, children’s services and health and wellbeing support.
Snap - Family Information Service (Thurrock) provides free, impartial information and advice on childcare and family support services in Thurrock. The website has an online directory of information on family support, sport and leisure and local events.
Riverview youth club - To give young people in Purfleet-on-Thames somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk.
Brennan road youth club - Inspire Hub is an all age career service based in Grays directly opposite Thameside Theatre, and in Tilbury in Civic Square.
National services:
Childline - Childline is a British counselling service for children and young people aged up to 18 in the United Kingdom.
YoungMinds - The UK’s leading charity fighting for a world where no young person feels alone with their mental health.
Papyrus Hopeline - HOPELINE247 advisers want to work with you to understand why thoughts of suicide might be present. They also want to provide you with a safe space to talk through anything happening in your life that could be impacting on your or anyone else’s ability to stay safe.
Camhs - CAMHS stands for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. CAMHS is the NHS mental health services for children and young people.
Samaritans - Samaritans is a registered charity aimed at providing emotional support to anyone in emotional distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide throughout the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, often through its telephone helpline.
Kooth - Kooth is your online mental wellbeing community. Access free, safe and anonymous.
Hub of hope - The Hub of Hope is the UK’s leading mental health support database. It is provided by national mental health charity, Chasing the Stigma, and brings local, national, peer, community, charity, private and NHS mental health support and services together in one place for the first time.
Victim support - Victim Support is an independent charity dedicated to supporting victims of crime and traumatic incidents in England and Wales.
Students against depression - Students Against Depression provides you with a calm environment and the resources to help you find a way forward - a website offering advice, information and guidance to those affected by low mood, depression and suicidal thinking.
Papyrus - PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide is the UK charity dedicated to the prevention of suicide and the promotion of positive mental health and emotional wellbeing in young people.
Shout - Shout is the UK's first and only free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging service for anyone who is struggling to cope.
The mix - The Mix is the UK’s leading support service for young people. We are here to help you take on any challenge you’re facing - from mental health to money, from homelessness to finding a job, from break-ups to drugs. Talk to us via our online community, on social or our counselling service.