Are you aged 16 to 25 and want to have your say on what happens at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn? The hospital is setting up a Youth Council which will ensure the voice of young people is heard by decision-makers at the hospital and members can also update their friends and communities about what is happening there. The group will set their own priorities, work closely with departments in the hospital, and be a crucial new way of boosting the links between the QEH and the local community. Anyone interested in finding out more and signing up for regular updates can log onto www.teamqehyouth.co.uk During the early autumn, the first fifteen youth council members will be selected. They will then meet every six weeks and decide on the first areas to focus on. Youth council members will not get paid as this is a voluntary independent role, but they will be reimbursed for their travel and other expenses relating to their role. Alice Webster, Chief Executive of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, said: “It is important that we make sure we are hearing from the under-25s in the communities that we look after. Their ideas, suggestions and connections are so important to us both in terms of continuously improving the care we give and helping us shape our new hospital. Antonia Hardcastle, the hospital’s Lead Governor, added: “We are only as good as the information we hear about when we are meeting our communities. The Youth Council will be vital in helping us understand the issues, concerns, ideas, and views of the younger members of the communities we care for. “Being part of the Youth Council is a useful springboard into further education, apprenticeships, or work for some. We are also really keen to hear from those already in work and looking to develop and enhance their skills, as well as bring their own life experience, empathy and personality to the council.”
