Stockport NHS Foundation Trust has three new youth ambassadors to represent the voice of younger people.

Teenagers Jaida Madathilethu from Heald Green, Francesca Aspray from Hazel Grove, and Amy Rhodes, also from Hazel Grove, were voted in after 28 people put forward their name.

All ‘members’ of the organisation aged between 11 and 18 years were eligible to vote for the youth ambassadors. Stockport NHS Foundation Trust runs Stepping Hill Hospital, as well as local community health services, and has 12,000 public members to ensure the views of local people are heard.

The trio replace the previous youth ambassadors Daniel Taylor, Eleanor Bamber and Charli Ward who had served for the previous year.

The youth ambassador post is a voluntary role which lasts for one year. The ambassadors help to improve how the NHS organisation keeps people informed about its work. This includes advising on parts of the website and open day activities.

The ambassadors’ first engagement was introducing themselves to over 100 members at this year’s Annual Members Meeting on the hospital site.

Jaida Madathilethu (16 years old) said, “I wanted to become a youth ambassador because I`m interested in how the NHS is organised and functions.  I hope I can make a significant contribution by inputting my ideas and opinions about issues.”

Francesca Aspray (17) said, “I hope that as a youth ambassador, I will be able to become an advocate for children and young people who use the service. I feel it is critical that their opinions are valued, to enable improvements to be made.”

Amy Rhodes (17) said, “By being a youth ambassador I hope to understand more about the NHS and help more young people to understand as well,  and become involved with events like the open day next summer.”

Communications Manager Helen O’Brien, who works closely with the youth ambassadors said, “We are delighted to have such enthusiastic, bright and talented teenagers join us as our new youth ambassadors. It’s important that we communicate well with all our different audiences, including young people. We are sure Jaida, Francesca and Amy will make an outstanding contribution.”