Project summary
The NHS and local authorities worked together to organise an event for vulnerable and hard-to-reach young people which showcased the services available to them, and encouraged them to get involved in making decisions about future services.
Project Dates
Start Date: 26/08/2009
End Date: 26/05/2010
Location of project
Lanarkshire
Area of healthcare
All types of care
Target groups
Carers, Children and young people, People with disabilities, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual, Men, Mental health, Women, Homeless people, Poverty, Vulnerable children and young people
Guidelines followed
The event followed current legislation and policy including "Looked after Children and Young People: we can and must do better" (Scottish Government, 2007) and "These are our Bairns: a guide for community planning partnerships on being a good corporate parent" (Scottish Government, 2008). Other policy drivers include "Respect and Responsibility: a strategy and action plan for improving sexual health" (Scottish Government, 2005) and "Curriculum for Excellence" (Scottish Government, 2009)
Approaches used
Action planning/ community appraisal, Exhibitions/ events/ public meetings, Focus groups, Interviews, Leaflets, Open space, Round table workshops, Posters
Aims and objectives
- Increase young people’s awareness of services and activities so they are more confident accessing them
- Increase organisations' awareness of the needs of young people, and encourage and develop ways to reach and attract them
- Develop and encourage young people’s participation in leisure and recreational activities in their communities
- Showcase Lanarkshire’s youth services
- Identify barriers to young people using services and how they can be involved in the way services are delivered
What we did
The event steering group comprised North and South Lanarkshire Councils, NHS Lanarkshire, Scottish Health Council, Up2U, Up for it and LANDED. This was a free fun day for children and young people in Lanarkshire with lots of health-related activities. Initially this was aimed at looked-after, looked-after away from home, care leavers, young carers and all other vulnerable and hard-to-reach young people. The 33 stalls included: eye tests, beer goggles, dental health, smoking cessation, mental health, sexual health, health MOTs, colleges, domestic abuse, Samaritans, police and beauty stalls including a nail bar, massage, complimentary therapies, tan stand and more.
The Scottish Health Council ran two workshops which provided individuals with information on health and health services. This allowed young people to feed back how they feel about health and why they feel that way, and to find out about methods by which they could get involved in the design and delivery of services.
Evaluation
64 evaluation forms were completed by children and young people who attended the event and showed wide representation from both North and South Lanarkshire. All 64 people enjoyed the day and 42 respondents stated that the day changed their views on health, in particular smoking/alcohol awareness, weight/fitness, oral health, mental health, sexual health and eye care. This evidence shows that the day was a success in raising health issues to this particular group of people.
Organisations that attended on the day completed evaluation forms which also provided positive and valuable feedback in that the day was a success and increased their awareness of these groups. The workshops identified barriers to young people using health services.
Plans for the future
It is hoped that a similar Health Fayre, targeting children and young people, will be held annually. All members of the steering group are keen to take this forward. The steering group will meet in September 2010 to commence with plans for "Free in The Park" 2011.