PANELS - PArticipation of under-served young people in North East London health and wellbeing Services

Background Young people in the UK have poorer health and well-being than in many similar countries. The COVID-19 pandemic has also affected many young people s mental and physical health. Integrated Care Systems (ICS) were set up across England in 2021 to get people to work together and improve the health and wellbeing of people who live in their area. This project is about how under-served young people in the north east London (NEL) borough of Redbridge can participate (have a say) in health and wellbeing services in accessible and inclusive ways. Under-served means not having enough help or access to the right services. Redbridge has a very diverse population and high levels of poverty, with limited support for young people and a voluntary and community sector which is not as well connected as in other areas of NEL. Our project will create a partnership with young people who live in NEL, and the adults who work with them, to explore how under-served young people s participation can best inform the work of the ICS and improve health and wellbeing. We will explore how things like disability, ethnicity, culture, and poverty affect each other, the health and well-being of under-served young people and their opportunities for participation. Local young people have set the agenda for this project from the beginning and will be involved all the way through, along with a community organisation (Community Action Redbridge), University of Hertfordshire researchers, and the NEL Integrated Care Board (who lead the ICS). Aim and objectives Our aim is to create a strong and lasting partnership in NEL between young people and the adults who work with them, learning and working together to help improve the participation, health and wellbeing of under-served young people. We will do this by: Developing a partnership which builds on existing groups and connections. Making time to get together and get to know each other, using creative methods, in meetings and social events. Exploring what good and inclusive participation looks like in practice and how we can make this happen. Evaluating the project together with young people (co-production). Methods In phase one: setting up (Months 1-3) we will set up a project advisory group, build connections and plan involvement with young people. Phase two (Months 3-11) will include workshops with young people and adults working in young people s health and wellbeing and developing a community of practice to share and create knowledge and explore new ways of working. Phase three: (Months 9-12) will co-produce an evaluation of the project with young people. Phase four: dissemination and planning (Months 12-14) we will share what we ve learned in creative ways and develop proposals for future research.