I first asked Alex, ‘Why did you become a volunteer with Healthwatch?’ He instinctively took me back four years, to when he was receiving support to develop his career. He stated that he was looking to “get some stuff on the CV, meet people, and be active [in the community]”. Alex started by doing some research and project sharing and is now actively working with our Engagement Officers on outreach within the local community.
After hearing about Alex’s motivations as a young person trying to get a start in the health and social care sector, I followed up with the question ‘what are your motivations to volunteer with Healthwatch now?’ He responded with answers similar to his original inspirations. However, he added that now he volunteers with enjoyment and that “I still like doing it, I still like doing it a lot”.
Alex then went on to talk about stigmas and presumptions that some young people face when entering professional environments: “But actually, there’s a stigma around young people nowadays, all we do is sit inside on our phones and consoles.” He explained to me how he does not fit into the mould and loves to meet new people and make a positive impact in his community. He gave the example of how he recently went on an outreach session with our new Engagement Officer, Chloe, to an event held at a local church, where he spoke to older individuals and thoroughly enjoyed meeting people and going to places he would not have otherwise.
I asked Alex ‘What impact do you think you have had on Healthwatch?’ He initially said that I should ask Katherine, our Volunteer Coordinator, so I did. Katherine said, “The ripple effect of Alex’s friendly and positive nature helped him to successfully distribute Healthwatch posters in his local areas, increasing our reach. His valuable feedback about the support the staff team provide and his supportive manner during outreach is a morale booster for staff and volunteers alike. When you have someone positive with you, it increases happiness. This increased confidence helped him be instrumental in setting up and helping book an information session at the local library, increasing the organisation’s capacity.”
Lastly, I asked Alex for his thoughts on the wider impact it has on younger people getting involved in health and social care. He explained about the possibilities that it has for younger people, which could inspire the future health and social care workers, and help inspire enjoyment in the role and industry. This point in particular made me smile; all professionals were once young adults, and they remember the passion and excitement of starting somewhere new. Having those feelings brought back by young professionals and volunteers is so beneficial and empowering. Making space and amplifying the voice of young adults can help us move beyond traditional approaches and can position people to lead with fresh energy, inspire innovative solutions, and create an atmosphere of enthusiasm.