Intent

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight (HiOW) Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Youth Board is a group of young people aged 14–25 who provide feedback, share insights, and help shape NHS services. The Youth Board ensures that young people’s voices are directly influencing how healthcare is designed and delivered across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Implementation

The Youth Board:

• Meets monthly, usually online

• Discusses ideas, shares experiences, and explores ways to improve services

• Provides a platform for young people to develop leadership, advocacy, and communication skills

• Acts as a structured way for young people to influence real NHS planning and decision-making

Unloc leads on:

• Recruitment of Youth Board members

• Designing and facilitating Youth Board sessions

• Supporting young people to develop skills and maximise their impact

Impact

Spotlight: Zariyan Ali

Zariyan is an active member of the HiOW Healthcare Youth Board and has recently been awarded a Health & Wellbeing Grant to launch Diversity Champions — an initiative supporting schools to run events that promote intercultural understanding.

Below is Zariyan’s own description of the opportunities and growth enabled through Unloc programmes:

“Currently serving my second consecutive term on the NHS Youth Board since 2023, I actively contribute to shaping Unloc/NHS programs that impact Hampshire and Isle of Wight youth. I was selected as the project administrator, responsible for recording minutes of meetings.

My passion for work in health and wellbeing is exemplified by my lead role in the Southern NHS video on cyberbullying, where I collaborated with Solent University media students and professors to produce impactful awareness content. This video was widely distributed and received praise at all possible levels. The Vice Chancellor of the University, and the Communications Manager at NHS Southern Health Foundation Trust, presented me with a written acknowledgement of my contribution and a gift card.

Beyond my involvement with the Southern NHS and Unloc, I am a proactive and responsible student leader. I have successfully prepared and delivered a presentation on the importance of vaccinations to my school assembly, demonstrating my strong communication and presentation skills.”