Young Swindon people take lead in council’s annual Director of Public Health report

Swindon Borough Council has been told that access to health services in Swindon should be fairer following the first public health report led by local young people.

The annual report by the Director of Public Health has this year been handed over to a group of young people to help shape the conversation around their health and wellbeing.

To recognise the importance of this landmark report, Sandra, who was a young leader on the project, met with council leader Cllr Jim Robbins and interim Director of Public Health Rob Carroll to explain their findings.

Sandra said the report’s recommendations included improving access to mental health support, increasing awareness and training for families and teachers on young people’s wellbeing, expanding affordable opportunities for physical activity and ensuring young people had a greater voice in shaping the services affecting them.

The report was produced in partnership with WAY, a group of young change-makers aged between 12 and 25. There are a series of recommendations for the council to consider. The report includes insight on the challenges faced by young people accessing health services, placing their voices at the centre of decision making.

To produce the document, young change-makers gathered insights through focus groups, creative workshops and direct consultations with more than 160 children and young people aged between four and 25. This process saw young people across Swindon share their perspective on access to local health services, including mental health and opportunities for healthy living.

Ollie, aged 19, who contributed to the report, said: “I don’t really know how to manage difficult feelings or how to get help.” This was one of several suggestions that local mental health support should be easier to access.

Another young person, aged 21, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I don’t really exercise regularly, honestly, and I think I should.”

Once reported to the Health and Wellbeing Board, the findings will be shared and considered by both the council and its local health and wellbeing partners, with a view to developing and improving services.

After meeting Cllr Robbins and Rob Carroll, Sandra said: "As a young leader at WAY, it's been incredibly meaningful to work in partnership with the Council and other organisations on this health report.

"It’s empowering to see young people’s voices being taken seriously, with their lived experiences driving real change in Swindon. This opportunity to be heard has meant so much to everyone involved."

Cllr Robbins, who also chairs the Health and Wellbeing Board, said: “This is the first time young people have led a report of this kind, and it is a powerful reminder that they are the experts in their own experiences.

“They have highlighted real, urgent issues, whether it’s the need for better mental health support, healthier school environments, or more affordable opportunities for exercise and we must take action to address them.

“I was inspired to hear first-hand their passionate case for change. As part of our work to build a fairer Swindon, we are committed across the council to working with young people and our partners to ensure their voices lead to meaningful change.”

Rob Carroll said: “We are pleased to have worked with local young people on the annual Director of Public Health report, which doesn’t just highlight the challenges they face, it presents solutions, directly from those with lived experience.

“We know how important it is that we work with children and young people to help partners provide health and wellbeing services that work for them. Our teams will continue listening to these voices as part of our work to make Swindon a healthier, fairer place for young people.”

The report will be formally presented at the Health & Wellbeing Board meeting on 25 March and is now available to view online on a website produced by the young people who helped produce the report, which can be reached via WAY’s website at https://wayuk.org/health-needs-report-2024/.