Young researchers from LifeLab have presented a series of recommendations aimed at improving health, wellbeing, and opportunities for their peers across Southampton.
The ideas come from 16 participants in this year’s NxtGen Researcher Programme, who have spent recent months designing and leading their own research into issues that matter most to young people. Their work explored a range of topics including adolescent mental health and wellbeing, education, physical activity, social media, and specific health conditions.
The young researchers gathered evidence using surveys, interviews and other research methods, before analysing their findings and developing recommendations for change.
They presented their work at a co-production assembly at Southampton City Council Chambers, which was attended by policymakers and practitioners. The event provided an opportunity to debate their proposals and begin shaping plans for how they could be put into practice.
A key focus of the initiative is ensuring that research reflects real community experiences. The young people involved come from a wide range of social, ethnic and educational backgrounds, helping to ensure that different perspectives are represented.
The cohort was supported by Southampton City Council’s NIHR Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC), working in partnership with the council’s Public Health team and the University of Southampton. The project builds on ongoing efforts to improve health and reduce inequalities across the city by strengthening how evidence is used in decision-making, while ensuring young people’s voices are included.
Dr Debbie Chase, Director of Public Health at Southampton City Council said: "Such confident, articulate and driven young people – skills and attitudes that will serve them well going forwards in life and importantly making us decision makers think differently about how we engage and work with young people to achieve progress together.
“The Co-production Day was a culmination of the comprehensive research training that the young people receive at LifeLab. The LifeLab team and training programme are fundamental in equipping our young people in Southampton to take a leading role in research addressing priority issues that matter most to them.”
Professor Kath Woods-Townsend, LifeLab Programme Director, said: “I've watched this cohort grow over months from a group of young people who didn't know each other, to one where the friendships and bonds they'd formed were visible in the way they supported and advocated for each other on the day. They weren't phased by the room or who was in it.
"What came through in the research questions was the breadth of what young people are telling us matters to them. Mental health featured strongly, but the nuance was in the detail. Access, knowing where to go, feeling safe to share how you're feeling, and having your confidentiality respected. Education came up repeatedly too, not just what we teach, but how we use the curriculum to build knowledge and skills for adulthood, and whether we're limiting young people based on judgements made about them years earlier.”
Esme, 15, who took part in the NxtGen Researcher Programme, said: "Taking part in the assembly made me feel like I could influence those in charge. It made me feel included and appreciated because all the young researchers there were getting their ideas put forward and being able to show what they think and share their opinions.”
Our full recommendations
- schools should allow for space within the PSHE curriculum to respond to student needs for education in specific topics, including common menstrual disorders, hearing impairment, vaping, anxiety and other mental health issues.
- schools should reconsider how they use data to set predicted grades for students and be transparent with students and parents about how these decisions are reached.
- adults working with young people should have access to training in how to respond to particular needs for the young people they work with, such as hearing impairment, neurodiversity, mental health and menstrual disorders.
- young people should expect to have their mental health problems kept confidential following an assessment of their maturity.
- school start times should be no earlier than 08:45.
- sports and leisure facilities should be built closer to underserved communities and their services be made more accessible to young families.
- organisations who work with young people should redesign their services to offer or refer to timely and accessible support appropriate to the level of need.
- social media companies should develop a way to restrict access to graphic content and label images which are potentially misleading or containing misinformation.
- the government should ensure that political education is included as a mandatory component in the national curriculum.
- women with young families should have access to free or very cheap places where they can meet with other women and healthcare professionals to talk about mental health issues or other things that bother them, with creche facilities available.
- all people who work in the criminal justice system should have more training in adolescent brain development and how trauma in adolescence can lead to anti-social personality disorder and ensure those affected receive trauma-informed therapy.
- libraries should set up youth panels to let young people have choice in the content of their section of the library and what the space looks like. These youth panels can help design advertising strategies to promote the use of libraries.
- vaping services should explore with young people why they start vaping to help them successfully quit.
- peer support training should be provided to young people in areas of identified need such as vaping and mental health.