Young people help create comic strip designs to have a voice on health services

18/12/2024

Children and young people have helped design comic strip style graphics and video to help share details about Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s (BCUHB) Children’s Charter.

The Charter is a set of standards that organisations work to, to make sure children and young people are treated fairly and have a voice, it aims to make sure they are heard in the Health Board about decisions that affect their lives.

The comic strips were created by children and young people in workshops and sessions at youth clubs in Conwy and St Johns Ambulance which were held to find out what they think of or see when told about the Children’s Charter.

Videos were created in English and Welsh to help create a visual and more accessible resource, turning jargon into easy to understand information and images, for children and young people to learn about the Children’s Charter.

Jane Berry, Children’s Patient Experience Lead: “It’s lovely to have information that is accessible and available to our children and young people across North Wales which tells them what they can expect and showcases their rights in healthcare.

“We’re pleased to have seen such enthusiasm from young people getting involved in this project and how keen they are to ensure their voice is heard and that they have a say on their health services.”

Alexander Pengelly and Scarlett Williams, young people who support the charter, recently attended a Health Board Meeting in which Board members approved the implementation of the charter and commented on the importance of acknowledging and listening to the voice of children.

Alexander and Scarlett are the first young people to present at a Board Meeting and this is a huge step forward in children and young being involved within the Health Board and having the opportunity to influence their future service provision. 

Alexander said: “This work matters to me because through my personal experiences I know that the Children’s Charter will help professionals to give children and young people the confidence to have a voice on what happens to them while under the care of hospitals and doctors in an age-appropriate way.”

During the development of the charter a number of event days were held with the National Trust, with schools and organisations attending, and it helped develop the Recipe Book, a useful resource to organisations across North Wales, sharing valuable learning and key insights from children and young people about what matters to them and what they feel are the key ingredients in creating environments where they feel their voices are heard, their wellbeing is nurtured and their rights are protected.

Read more here about the Recipe Book and its resources here.

Find out more about the Children’s Charter and view the comic videos here.