Our Young Persons' Group makes sure the voices of children and young people are heard throughout the Trust and aims to make a difference to children and young people accessing hospital and health services.
The group was initially set up in October 2017 and gradually expanded to include up to 14 members. The group provide feedback on hospital services in and around South Tyneside and Sunderland and contribute to decisions about their future. We are always looking for new members.
Who We Are
We are a group of 11-20 year olds living in and around South Tyneside and Sunderland. We get together every month to make sure our voices are heard in decisions about care and facilities for young people. We strive to make a real difference, our meetings aren't too serious and you'll get to make new friends while contributing to decisions about how your local hospital cares for people your age.
What We Do
We share our ideas on how to improve services within our hospital sites for children and young people. We provide valuable feedback on specific projects and give opinions from a child and young person’s perspective. At each meeting, the group are provided with well-earned refreshments (pizza is the favourite option) and rewarded with vouchers from time to time.
Our group recently pulled together this informative presentation for Child Exploitation Day 2021. Please click here to view.
Each member is also given a file to build a portfolio and evidence all work/projects they have been involved to demonstrate to schools, colleges, universities and future employers their accomplishments and show examples of how you have helped shape hospital services for children and young people in and around South Tyneside and Sunderland.
We also get involved in research projects, health promotion aswell as raising funds towards helping children and young people.
Get Involved
If you would like more information on how to get involved/ find out more about the group please contact Michelle Milburn, Safeguarding Children Nurse Advisor on: 0191 2024135/0191 5410555 or email: m.milburn@nhs.net
Our Charity
STSFT Young Person's Group have set up their own charity with all funds raised helping towards running costs of the group and to help invest in children and young person's experiences for those using the trust in both acute and community environments.
Get Involved
Please download an application form and send to the email address above.
Benefits of YPG
- A sense of achievement ‘making a difference’ to children and young people
- Build a personal record of achievement to share with schools, colleges, universities or employers
- Work together with nurses, doctors and other professionals while you develop projects
- Learn more about the NHS and how areas are run, roles and responsibilities
- Take part in key roles – chair, treasurer, minute taker etc
- Improve your health from information you receive along the way
- Chance to make new friends
- Have fun
Our achievements so far
- Designed our own name, logo and webpage
- Promotion for the group – launched the group and merchandise October 2018
- Chaplaincy – provided feedback on current cards and leaflets
- 15 Steps Inspections – completed a number of assessments of paediatric wards and departments and provided feedback.
- Provided input to room designs within Sunderland paediatric emergency department.
- Provided input into how young people would like personal questions would like to be asked within emergency department settings (HEADSS)
- Helped promote national health promotional campaigns including BALANCE alcohol awareness and KOOTH online support for young people
- We won an award for our volunteering services by Sunderland local authority in 2019
- We have set up their own charity in November 2019 and have been involved in a number of fundraising activities to support the group and STSFT
YPG Charity and Fundraising Events
STSFT Young Person's Group have set up their own charity with all funds raised helping towards running costs of the group and to help invest in children and young person's experiences for those using the trust in both acute and community environments.
The fundraising is for registered charity 1052366 – City Hospitals Sunderland Charity.
The funds being raised are to support fund number 74520 – Young Persons’ Group.
We have recently raised funds by creating Christmas goodie bags.
Useful contacts
Alcohol and Drug Support:
- YDAP (Sunderland) and Matrix (South Tyneside) offer specialist help, advice and support on alcohol and drug related matters for young people, parents and professionals.
- Youth Drug and Alcohol Project (YDAP) 0191 561 4000 https://www.togetherforchildren.org.uk/children-and-young-people/drug-and-alcohol-support
- Matrix 0191 4975637 http://www.ypmatrix.org/
- Frank 03001236600 https://www.talktofrank.com/
Bullying:
If you require any advice on anti-bullying polices, procedures, practises or issues:
- Sunderland Anti- Bullying Co-Ordinator – Dorothy Maddison 0191 5614053
https://www.togetherforchildren.org.uk/children-and-young-people/bullying
- South Tyneside Against Bullying - support network 08438868135
https://www.southtyneside.gov.uk/article/61584/South-Tyneside-Against-Bullying
General support:
If you have a concern, require advice. support or need to speak to a counsellor contact:
- Childline 0800 1111 https://www.childline.org.uk/
- KOOTH https://www.kooth.com/
- Action for Children https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/what-we-do/children-young-people/
- NSPCC
