Raising our profile with young adults
We have recently increased our membership total with hundreds of young adults across the region, keen to support and become involved in local NHS services.
The last few weeks has seen the membership team targeting young adults aged 16-20 years old from across Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull at recent college fresher’s events.
During the campaign a number of services supported the team including Rise (the mental health service for children and young people), the inpatient volunteering programme, and the Talent for Care team which runs the work experience and Trust apprenticeship programmes.
The events enabled teams to explain why it’s important to the communities in our care; we are accessible and accountable as a local NHS provider.
Giving the public and, in this case, our new young adult members the chance to ask questions, understand about local NHS services, and in particular the specialist services and teams the Trust provide across the region in mental Health, learning disabilities and community services. The team promoted the ‘sign up and support days’ via Twitter feeds before and during the events enabling students to find out more through their social networks.
By seeking the student’s support, explaining how they can become involved, whilst getting to grips with understanding what they want to know and how they want to obtain that information, can only be a positive benefit.
The Trust is pleased so many of these new members want take an active interest and become involved in order to improve our services to all our communities.
Josh Mcfadden, Young Peoples Worker for Rise at the Trust, said: “It’s been a great opportunity. We identified the need to attract the support of more young people. Some of the new members are aware of the mental health services we provide across the area and of course we want to understand their thoughts on services and how best we can involve them. Ultimately we aim to improve access for those who use the service, and as a consequence enhance their experience and those of their families and carers.”
Ian Yates, Membership Manager said: “As a lead provider of Integrated Community Services in Coventry, and Mental Health and Learning Disabilities services across Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull, we need to encourage all communities, irrespective of age, to become more aware of our services’ needs to engage and involve.
“A proactive community working alongside us on an equal standing is vital - influencing service change through a positive patient and carer network, whilst helping address the stigma often attached to the services we provide our patients.”
If you did not meet the recruitment team at these recent events, don’t worry, as there are lots of ways to sign up and have your say. For membership forms, call the Foundation Trust Membership Office on 024 7658 8848, or sign up online by visiting: www.covwarkpt.nhs.uk/become-a-member
Follow us on Twitter @CWPT_members