Victoria’s Voice
Victoria’s Voice is a youth forum for volunteers aged 11-18. The forum is for children and young people who have experience of being a patient at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals. Victoria’s Voice is now looking for new members to inspire change and shape the service that young patients receive.
Benefits of being a Victoria’s Voice volunteer include:
• Sharing your experiences (good or not so good) of being a patient in a safe and confidential space.
• Creating resources that are clear, interesting and accessible for children and young people on a range of subjects.
• Creating and leading campaigns to raise awareness on the health and hospital subjects you think are important.
• Educating doctors and other professionals by taking part in their training. Tell them why and how to communicate with younger patients.
• Getting to know how a Trust works by touring our pathology labs, surgical centres and more.
• Being involved in decision making for the whole Trust.
“When decisions are being made about how to run or change a service for healthcare, it is important that we take on board the opinions, viewpoints and experiences of all of our patients, and that includes children and young people.” said Catherine Marmon, Children’s Services Engagement Lead.
“We would encourage anyone aged between 11 and 18, who has had treatment at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals to get involved. Volunteering with the Trust is a great way to gain experience leading change and it looks great on a UCAS application too.
“So if you know friends or family who have spent time within the hospital and who might want to make new friends and speak up for young people in hospital, we’d welcome their application!”
Victoria’s Voice meets for 90 minutes on the last Wednesday of every month at the Trust. For more information please take a look at our Trust website or visit our Instagram @victorias.voice.