Youth Health Leaders in Blackpool Schools

This eWIN Case Study is about a Youth Leaders Programme in Blackpool. Practice Development Sister Sharon Vickers was concerned at the numbers of young people coming to hospital with lifestyle related problems such as alcohol dependency, substance abuse and teenage pregnancy and wanted to do something to help these young people take charge of their own wellbeing and prevent hospital admission. She set up the Youth Health Leaders project in local schools to:

•    Empower young people
•    Give young people the knowledge to promote healthier lifestyles
•    Improve the health of their local community
•    Reduce the number of hospital admissions due to unhealthy living
•    Introduce young people to possible career paths within the NHS