ABOUT US
Elevate is made up of local young people, aged 13-25, all sharing a passion to make a difference. Founded by both Changes & CAMHS, the youth council provides various opportunities for young people to make a difference to children & young person's mental health services within the local area. Many members of the youth council have their own experiences of mental health difficulties, and after accessing support, now use their journey to inspire change within local services, and to empower other young people, perhaps facing similar challenging situations. Other members of the youth council may not have accessed services previously, but have a passion to make a difference and wish to gain experience working with mental health services.
We believe that young people have a powerful voice that can make a difference in their local communities. We welcome passionate, like-minded individuals who want to work together to make a positive impact on local young person's mental health services. Our Youth Council offers a unique opportunity for young people to develop valuable skills, and experiences, while advocating for issues that matter to them. We invite you to join us and use your voice to make a difference.
Ready to Join?
Find out more
Hear from our Youth Council
Meet the team
Example of Previous Projects
Youth council members sitting on CAMHS interview panels to contribute, and have input around recruitment in local services.
Awareness Event
CAMHS Interviews
The youth council organised & facilitated a local mental health awareness event, focused on reducing stigma & highlighting the valuable support that is available in our area.
Youth council members are sitting on CAMHS interview panels to contribute to, and have input around, recruitment in local services.
Participation
Training Programmes
Our consistent work centres around highlighting the importance of participation, ensuring that services are developed based on feedback and ideas from young people.
The youth council have actively been working on training programmes for parents & professionals to provide further support to young people on LGBTQ+ & disordered eating.
Thinking of Joining?
Who is able to join?
The youth council is open to anyone aged 13-21, who lives in Stoke-On-Trent or North Staffordshire.
How often do Elevate meet, and where?
Elevate meet 2x monthly, with one of these meetings held in-person at our wellbeing centre in Stoke, and one delivered online via Zoom.
What level of commitment do I need to give?
We know that everyone has other commitments, and always want to ensure that you prioritise your wellbeing. For this reason, we really emphasise that there is no pressure in attending every meeting, or getting involved in all projects. We appreciate all contribution, and always send out updates, and summary of meetings, so that you can send over any ideas if you’re unable to attend a meeting.
Let's Work
Together
If you are interested in joining us, please click the link below to complete our registration form:
kirsty.booth@changes.org.uk
01782 413355