Frome Medical Practice is reviving its Youth Patient Participation Group for the new year. The group, which ran successfully in the years leading up to the COVID pandemic, offers the chance for young people to have their say on the health topics that are important to them.

The Youth Participation Group is run by young people, for young people, with support from the team at the practice. It takes place on the last Wednesday of every month from 4.00 - 5.00pm in the practice building. It will also be possible for young people who can't physically attend the practice at that time to join the meeting online. Refreshments will be provided at the sessions.

Open to any young person aged 15 - 18 who is a patient at the practice, the group looks at ways to improve wellbeing and health services for young people. The group is strongly encouraged to take action on or develop ideas to improve health and wellbeing for young people in the area. Being a member of the group is a great opportunity for anyone interested in health, medicine, event organisation, design and advertising, how local services are run and promoting the youth voice. It's also an interesting experience to add to a university personal statement and CVs. No previous experience is required for anyone wanting to join the group.

Susie Williams was the original Chair of the Youth PPG when it was established in late 2016, leading the group through its formation and early actions. Susie said, "I chaired the Youth PPG whilst in sixth form at Frome College, and it was a great opportunity to express my views on how the medical practice could improve its services for children and young people. We ran lots of exciting activities and events in partnership with the practice, such as running scenarios in the GP consulting rooms and identifying how clinics could be improved, reviewing the layout of the practice and if there were any barriers in how young people find out about what services are available to them, taking part in the Children's Festival raising awareness about physical and mental wellbeing, running a canteen takeover day for the college sixth form where we cooked for over 200 people, and many other projects in the community! These experiences helped me write my personal statement and were brilliant interview talking points, helping me to successfully get into Bristol Medical School where I will be graduating this year in July as a doctor."

Julie Carey-Downes, who is part of the Health Connections Team at the practice and supports the Youth PPG said: "In the past, the Youth PPG implemented some great changes for young people in Frome and we are really pleased that we can start this group up again. We'd encourage any young person interested in joining the group or finding out more to get in touch."

The first meeting of the new Youth Patient Participation Group takes place on Wednesday 25th January from 4.00-5.00pm at Frome Medical Practice. If you'd like to find out more please contact the Health Connections Team on 01373 468368. If you'd like to come along, whether in person or remotely, sign up here.