Our Voices website

Madison Lee

SHE-eo • Entrepreneur

Our Voices is the young person’s advisory group for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough's mental health and wellbeing system.

The group is an opportunity for local young people to get involved with the development of local services, and have your say about the mental health and wellbeing issues that matter to you.

Our work aims to address issues such as access to support and stigma attached to mental health.

The group is supported by Fullscope and Ormiston Families and a steering group of experts by experience.

Projects

Consultation

We are regularly asked to consult on issues related to the mental health services for young people. If you would like to consult with Our Voices, please ensure you meet our consultation criteria as set out in our project checklist.

Our Voices have been involved with the development of local children and young people's mental health service YOUnited since its inception in 2021. This has included:

Co-design of the YOUnited logo and branding
Consultation on letters received by young people after they have been referred
Consultation about the language used with young people about the support they may receive from YOUnited
Consultations about marketing materials.

Instagram

Through our Instagram account young advisors help to share wellbeing advice, opportunities to get involved as well as training and workshops.

Current Project

The Our Voices group expressed an interest in creating a toolkit aimed at young people to help them support their peers with their wellbeing and mental health.

Progress so far

During the autumn term, young people worked with group facilitators to think about what they wanted from the toolkit, what resources are already out there and finalise ideas for what the toolkit is going to be.

Over the next few months, young people are going to be working with professionals to design and create the content for the toolkit.

If you want to get involved with this project, please visit our contact us page and get in touch.

Getting Involved

Members of Our Voices must be aged between 13 - 19 years old and live in Cambridgeshire or Peterborough, and have the enthusiasm and commitment to make a difference to the lives of all young people.

You do not have to have any experience of mental health difficulties to join Our Voices.

Meetings

Instagram

ONLINE: The Our Voices young advisors meet monthly online through MS Teams. Meetings are informal; we work with local organisations and support them via consulations to inform their work with young people. We plan campaigns, events and our social media, as well as in person meet-ups.

IN-PERSON: The young advisors meets every 3 months in person for fun activities, campaign work and other projects.

Visit our Code of Care document for more information about what to expect.

Are you interested in design, art, writing or media?

Help us share young people's ideas and tips for wellbeing, and help reduce stigma of mental health, through the Our Voices Instagram account. The account and its private chat group is moderated by Fullscope & Ormiston Families.

Visit our Contact us page if you want to get involved.

Local Resources

Visit the YOUnited website to find out more information about services and how to access support.

Need help now?

Visit the Centre 33 website to find out what support is available.

To find out more information about local services, visit the Keep Your Head website.