For young people by young people

Youth Out Loud! gives young people in Kingston an opportunity to raise their voice about the health and social care issues that matter to them.

Who are Youth Out Loud?

Youth Out Loud! (YOL!) has brought together young people aged 13-17 years from across Kingston, collaborating with Healthwatch Kingston to scrutinise local health and social care services through mystery shopping and ‘15 Steps’ visits.

As well as sharing their opinions of local health and care services YOL! raise awareness of what services are available to young people through interviews, short films and social media.

How did it get started?

Launching in 2019, YOL! was a partnership between Healthwatch Richmond and Healthwatch Kingston. As youth services often cover both boroughs it was logical to have both represented in Youth Out Loud!

What has YOL! done?

As part of the digital youth project YOL! has created films that raise awareness of health issues effecting young people, as well as signposting to where support is. Films have covered topics including being a good friend to someone who is self-harming, sexual health and the importance of using the correct words and more. 

Visit the YOL! website for more information and to see the films

YOL! has given feedback on NHS and social care plans and strategies including challenging the ‘start well’ element of the NHS Ten Year Plan. Using their own experiences to highlight where improvements need to be made. Most recently providing feedback to the NHS new ten year strategy as part of ChangeNHS and their three big ideas, using more technology, moving some services from hospitals to communities and doing more to prevent illness.

YOL! have also conducted a 15 Steps Challenge in both Kingston Hospital and Wolverton (Sexual Health Clinic). The group found these rewarding and felt they had made a difference to the services.

"Participating in the 15 steps challenge was eye-opening for me as I learned much more about the running of a few hospital wards. I learnt alot about the many things the hospital does to make children feel welcome--e.g tooth fairy money. I also felt that my advice and evaluation was truly taken on board. I would love to participate again."

YOL! have created podcasts called YOL!Talks in response to the pandemic, focusing on looking after yourself as well as a second podcast celebrating LGBT history.

Listen to YOLTalks!

Volunteer with YOL!

If you are aged between 13 and 17 and want to volunteer with YOL! contact Scott Bacon on 07421 071820 or scott@healthwatchkingston.org.uk to find out more.

Find out more about YOL! and what they are doing now.

Website: yolweb.info

Email: scott@healthwatchkingston.org.uk

Phone: 0203 326 1255 / 07421 071820

YOL! work and reports

Click on the links below to see previous reports completed for YOL! 

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