Putting young people at the heart of service design and delivery

Consultation on mental health support for young people with SEND
The SEND Mental Health Co-Ordinator from the Hertfordshire and West Essex SEND Mental Health Support Team, Charlotte Sandford, visited one of the Dacorum SEND Youth Council sessions. The young people took part in a group discussion, and shared their experiences of accessing services for support, including mental health services, both the positives and the challenges. Charlotte will return in the 2026 spring term to report back on how their feedback has been used to make positive changes.

Vaping awareness and Public Health Hertfordshire’s youth vaping campaign
The youth council members took part in a discussion about the issues around vaping, including myths and misconceptions, the effects, and their thoughts on why vaping is appealing to young people. The group discussed both physical, mental and environmental concerns and reviewed the Public Health Hertfordshire youth vaping campaign, identifying work that could be done to support it. The young people were excited and keen to be part of this work. The session increased their understanding of the dangers of vaping and gave them the opportunity to present their ideas and influence the campaign going forward.

HCC Plan for Children and Young People – Outcome Bees
The group received feedback on their contribution to the HCC Plan for Children and Young People in the 2025 spring term and gave further feedback on the Outcome Bees and what they mean to them, how they experience them and what improvements could be made. Discussing ideas, sharing their experiences and having the opportunity to contribute to the plan, helped the young people feel included and increased their confidence and self-esteem. Their input will inform the HCC Plan for Children and Young People.

Youth Strategy Partnership Group (YSPG) Action Plan
The youth council reviewed and gave their feedback on the YSPG Action Plan. Giving feedback, discussing ideas and sharing experiences helped the young people feel included and developed their self-esteem and confidence. Their feedback will used to inform future Action Plans.

Personal safety and National Youth Strategy - Herts Pathway
The young people undertook a group activity around personal safety, discussing different scenarios and actions they would take to keep themselves safe. Following this we discussed their involvement with the National Youth Strategy - Herts Pathway. The young people became more aware of how to keep themselves safe and were informed about the National Youth Strategy and able to contribute their ideas to it.

Senior leader visit
Head of Improvement and Transformation at HCC, Sam Rostom, who is the Link Leader for the Dacorum SEND Youth Council, visited the group as part of the HCC reverse mentoring programme. During the visit, the young people completed a ‘blue-sky thinking’ exercise, developing their ideas for a project to organise for next term. These included how they can support their local food bank by putting on a gig and writing letters to their local MP about issues important to them. The visit gave them the opportunity to give feedback to their Link Leader and have their voices heard, sharing what matters to them. Engaging with a senior member of staff increased their confidence and self-esteem and the group discussion developed their listening, planning and brainstorming skills.

US politics, civil rights and history
The St Albans SEND Youth Council had a discussion around US politics and the impact it has on the UK. The young people shared their knowledge of Martin Luther King and his achievements. They discussed that people’s independence and liberty had been taken away and how liberation happened. As a result, they gained a better understanding of how the political system in the US works and its differences from the UK system. They also gained more knowledge of US history, the civil rights movement from the 1960s onwards and the impact of the holocaust.

Children’s Mental Health Week
Some members for the youth council shared their personal experiences with mental health. The group listened respectfully to one another and showed empathy, gaining a greater understanding of each other than they had previously. Their knowledge and awareness of the support available to them and their peers around mental health was also increased.

University of Herts and Essex research project
The young people engaged with researchers from the University of Herts and Essex. They gave them their feedback and advice on their consultation event and how to make it as inclusive as possible. The young people had their voices heard and enjoyed the process of giving their opinions to help with the research project.

International Women’s Day
The group discussed famous women who were known for the contribution they made to their society, increasing their knowledge of notable women and their achievements. They also learnt about struggles women have had to endure in the past and issues they still face.

Senior leader visit
The County Lead for School Age Statutory SEND Inclusion Support and Learning, Alistair Hines, who is the Link Leader for the St Albans SEND Youth Council, visited the group as part of the HCC reverse mentoring programme. The young people engaged in a debate about films, giving them opportunity to voice their opinions to the senior leader, as well as hear from other youth council members. The youth council is a safe space to challenge other people’s views and learn how to have healthy discussions.

Sharing lived experience
The Broxbourne SEND Youth Council members shared their experiences of the support they received as young people with SEND, including at mainstream secondary schools and special schools. Through these discussions the young people were able to learn more about each other and their life experiences which developed the cohesion of the group.

Police visit
Police officers from the Borough of Broxbourne attended a youth council session and the group was able to ask them questions about their role and the training they receive around SEND and neurodiversity. The officers shared that their training in this area is limited. Through the discussions that followed, the young people developed their understanding of the role of the police and had the opportunity to share their experiences as young people with SEND. The process highlighted the need for further training for police, something the group may wish to take forward as a piece of work.

University of Hertfordshire research: Adapt-Ed Project about food in special schools
On two occasions the Broxbourne SEND Youth Council met with Lauren and Andy, researchers from the University of Hertfordshire, who are undertaking research as part of the Adapt-Ed Project about food and mealtimes in special schools. Supported by the researchers, the young people produced a podcast in which they were able to share their own experiences and insights, articulate their views, and give their ideas for improving school mealtimes for those with SEND. The podcast will be used as part of the research. Listen to the podcast here: AdaptEd podcast

Consultation on mental health support for young people with SEND
Educational mental health practitioner, Emma Howard, came to a youth council session and discussed her job role with the group. A lengthy discussion took place around mental health support for young people with SEND in schools. The young people were able to highlight the lack of and importance of mental health support for young people with SEND in mainstream schools. Emma will provide feedback to the group next term, after taking away the young people's thoughts and opinions on how mental health services can be improved.

Senior leader visit
Head of Nursing and Quality for Women and Children at East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, Fay Clark, who is the Link Leader for the Broxbourne SEND Youth Council, visited the group as part of the HCC reverse mentoring programme. The young people enjoyed sharing with Fay the work they had been involved in as a youth council, including the refurbishment of the Waltham Cross Young People’s Centre. Following her visit Fay posted on LinkedIn about how much she enjoyed meeting the young people and the importance of listening to their voices.

Senior leader visit
SEND Inclusion Support and Learning Area Manager and County Lead (Graduate Response), Sally Glossop, who is the Link Leader for the East Herts SEND Youth Council, visited the group as part of the HCC reverse mentoring programme. The group took the opportunity to discuss issues that were important to them as young people with SEND and shared how being part of the East Herts SEND Youth Council has enabled them to make a positive changes to services in Hertfordshire and their own lives. The young people found the meeting helpful as it developed their support network and knowledge of people who are there for them to reach out to should they need additional information. Both the young people and their Link Leader shared that they enjoy working alongside one another and that they will continue to work and learn together.

Herts Young Homeless visit
The youth council met with people from the Herts Young Homeless (HYH) charity. They discussed developing independent living skills such as budgeting and financial problem solving in various hypothetical scenarios. The young people were informed of the HYH Youth Engagement Panel which is an opportunity for young people across Hertfordshire to work closely with HYH, helping them to implement better support methods. The young people learnt a lot to help with their development and gained important life skills, such as budgeting and working through financial difficulties.

Police visit – online safety
The group met with Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Cyber Security and Prevent Officers to discuss how they and other young people can keep themselves safe online, including protecting themselves from fraud, grooming, radicalisation and exploitation. The young people also learnt about career paths in the field of cyber safety and requested further information about this from the officers.

Vaping awareness and Public Health Hertfordshire’s youth vaping campaign 'Vape Brain'
The Welwyn Hatfield SEND Youth Council joined a video call with the Broxbourne and East Herts SEND Youth Councils and Nicola McDonnell from Public Health Hertfordshire to discuss the development of a youth vaping campaign. The young people researched the risks of vaping, the myths around it, and discussed peer pressure and why young people vape. They then developed storyboards to convey ideas for a video to contribute to the campaign. Through this work the group developed their knowledge around vaping and its impact on young people and the environment. Some members of the youth council do vape, and being part of this process has made them more aware of the risks of doing so. They have also been encouraged and supported by their peers to make healthier choices.

Consultation on mental health support for young people with SEND
The youth council gave feedback to mental health teams that work across Hertfordshire, in Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services (CYPMHS) and within schools, sharing their experiences of accessing mental health services. They heard about the ways Public Health Hertfordshire supports young people with SEND and had a joint discussion about how services could be improved. The young people felt that they were able to have an open and honest discussion where their experiences and voices were heard. They felt this helped to break down the stigma surrounding mental health. Their feedback will help develop future mental health services for young people with SEND, which will have a positive impact on the wider community.

Mental health awareness
The youth council members took part in several sessions exploring mental health. They considered the link between physical health and mental wellbeing. They discussed times where they felt their mental wellbeing was poor, identifying causes and how they accessed support (if they did). The group viewed a video on the body’s response to stress and drew pictures of their own physical symptoms to develop their understanding of themselves and how they personally respond to stress. The young people enjoyed the self-facilitated sessions and conversations and felt positive sharing their experience of mental health with others. They collectively developed their knowledge and understanding.

Depression and anxiety awareness
The group researched depression and anxiety, identifying the symptoms and the support available to young people with SEND, including treatments offered and if these were ‘SEND friendly’. The young people also contributed their own experiences and knowledge to the discussions. This resulted in them forming stronger friendships with each other and feeling more confident sharing their experiences.

Children’s Mental Health Week
The group explored the Children’s Mental Health Week website and discussed ways in which they could promote mental health services and create awareness among other young people with SEND. They decided on a newsletter to share testimonies, and information on topics they feel passionate about. They came up with a name for the newsletter: ‘SENDing a Message of Change’. They enjoyed being able to engage in peer support and share their views and opinions with each other.

Senior leader visit
Principle Educational Psychologist with the HCC Educational Psychology Service, Naina Cowell, who is the Link Leader for the North Herts SEND Youth Council, visited the group as part of the HCC reverse mentoring programme. Before the visit the group developed presentations which showcased their talents, hobbies and interests to share with their Link Leader during the visit. These activities helped the young people develop their presentation skills, and the group discussions with the senior leader developed their listening skills, confidence and resilience.

Mental health awareness
The members of the youth council have been sharing their own experiences of mental health and what they have found helpful in overcoming challenges with anxiety and poor mental health. The also group completed the Hertfordshire Young People’s Health and Wellbeing Survey. The youth council gives the young people a safe space to discuss how mental health issues have affected them in education and in their relationships with family and friends.

NHS Toolbox website consultation
The group spent time reviewing the new NHS Toolbox website for young people with ADHD and Autism and then met with NHS manager Emma Sinclair to give her their feedback. The group really liked the website and provided valuable feedback to Emma, who was extremely impressed by their contributions which included ideas for making the website more user friendly. The young people enjoyed critiquing the website and presenting their feedback.

Mental health and SEND posters
The group made posters about how they would support a young person with SEND who was struggling with mental health issues. The group appreciated having time carved out for creative activities, like designing posters.

Senior leader visit
HCC 0-25 Team Service Manager, Andy Lawrence, who is the Link Leader for the Stevenage SEND Youth Council, visited the group as part of the HCC reverse mentoring programme. The group shared their thoughts and ideas with Andy and after the visit he emailed a report about his experience of visiting the project, including what was discussed and what he learnt. Having a service manager interacting with the group and recording their thoughts and feelings made a difference to the young people because they felt their feedback was being listened to and would result in real changes being made.

Visits from young people completing their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE)
Some of the young people who are working towards their Bronze DofE Award with SfYP have been completing their Volunteering Section through working with the young people in the Stevenage SEND Youth Council. They provide fantastic role models for the youth council members, who see the young people doing their DofE Award with us and want to get involved. The volunteers’ contributions made a huge difference to the group.

Making Stevenage Young People’s Centre more SEND friendly
The youth council members had great fun talking about how they could make the Stevenage Young People’s Centre a more SEND-friendly space. The group worked together to look at all the delivery spaces at the centre. The young people were able to communicate and record how the current delivery spaces affect them. Being given this opportunity increased their self-esteem, and they were excited to be able to present their recommendations to the senior management team.

Discussing topics of interest
The youth council members had group discussions about various subjects that were important to them, such as the environment and animals, money and going cashless, and fundraising for charities, including the YMCA and the Dogs Trust. The young people's confidence and sense of value increased by having peers and staff hear their thoughts and opinions.

Information literacy
The group engaged in an activity to identify the sources of information available online. The activity highlighted how the internet was a valuable source of information but that some information could be inaccurate or misleading. The young people learnt useful tips for avoiding incorrect information and how to find more accurate information from credible sources. They are now more informed about misinformation, disinformation, propaganda and fake news.

Kindness
The group considered Random Acts of Kindness Day and associated quotes and ideas. They discussed how acts of kindness are not only of benefit to others but also improve our own emotional wellbeing. Members of the group shared their own experiences, including using a charitable app which enables people to collect items that people no longer want and distribute them to others in need. The group identified some different simple acts of kindness and how they could introduce these into their lives.

Fundraising for charities
One member of the group shared that they are walking to raise money for the Dogs Trust which supports dogs in need. Using this real-world example as a starting point, the group learnt about various methods that can be used to raise money for charity.

Support for neurodivergent young people
The youth council members discussed their experiences of being neurodivergent in Hertfordshire and what support they would have liked growing up. They discussed their experiences of school and what they would change, including additional support they would have benefited from. The young people were able to reflect and articulate how their life experiences could have been improved with more support being in place in their community and school. They had an increased sense of worth and self-esteem through the sharing of their thoughts and opinions, and more empathy for one another as they talked about some of the more difficult experiences of schooling.

Expressing feelings and emotions
The group will be creating a feelings/emotions board displayed on the wall so that they can better express how they are feeling at any one point in time.

Discrimination and school inclusion
The youth council members chose to focus on discrimination and barriers to school inclusion as initial topics for this term. They were able to identify and share the barriers that they had faced in the past or were currently facing in school. They discussed the law around discrimination and the most appropriate services available to them for support. Through this, they developed their communication skills and gained a deeper understanding of the meaning of discrimination.

Relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) for young people with SEND
The young people discussed their experiences of RSHE in school. They were able to identify where this had been positive and helpful but also where there was a lack of information and awareness of those with SEND. They also identified gaps in their own knowledge and places where they could go for reliable sexual health information and advice which also respected their needs as young people with SEND.

Personal safety
The group participated in a wide-ranging discussion exploring their own personal safety, community engagement, and the police. They reflected on their own experiences and how they view the relationship between the police and young people in their communities. The group discussed ways in which this relationship could be improved. The young people were able to discuss and reflect on the current risks that they feel they and their peers are facing, which included how they access support networks and how they keep themselves safe. Reflecting on their personal safety and the risks they face within their communities, the group developed a poster to be used as part of the training for youth workers undertaking street-based youth work.

HCC Plan for Children and Young People
The young people received an update on how their initial feedback is being incorporated into the Plan for Children and Young People and provided further information to feed into it. They appreciated update and the opportunity to inform the plan.

Sensory space in the South Oxhey Family Centre
Working with the Intensive Family Support Team, the young people gave their views on how to develop the sensory room at the South Oxhey Family Centre. They appreciated the opportunity to input their ideas, which included the range of sensory resources and toys which could be made available.

HCC Plan for Children and Young People
SfYP Youth Work Development Worker, Heather Wallace, visited the group to talk about how the initial feedback they gave on the HCC Plan for Children and Young People in the spring term had been incorporated. The young people appreciated the opportunity to inform the plan and gave more views relating to the Outcome Bees to feed into the final plan. Through the discussions, they developed their confidence in sharing ideas and active listening skills in hearing the views of others.

School for those with SEND
School and the challenges experienced by some members of the youth council were a key concern for the group. The young people therefore decided to explore some of these issues. They were able to identify both positive and negative experiences of school and supported each other in finding ways in which their experiences could be improved. They created ‘dream boards’ of what they hoped to achieve in the rest of their time at school, setting future goals and thinking of ways in which they could be and feel more supported in school.

Senior leader visit
Designated Clinical Officer at Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust, Melissa Robertson, who is the Link Leader for the Hertsmere SEND Youth Council, visited the group as part of the HCC reverse mentoring programme. The young people engaged in a Q&A session with Melissa about the support they had received with their SEND needs in the community, the NHS and in school. Young people appreciated the opportunity to share their experiences, concerns, challenges and ideas with a senior leader.

Education and healthcare improvements
The youth council members engaged in conversations about if they ran the country, how they would fund schooling and healthcare. They identified areas they feel affect young people most, which included issues with support at school, and mental health and wellbeing. They discussed ways in which education and health services could be improved to ensure support is there for the needs they feel strongly about. They expressed that more support with mental health and bullying at school was needed to prevent young people from not wanting to attend. They explored increasing staffing in schools to improve those areas. Through the discussions the young people developed their communication and listening skills.