This 2025/26 Q1 report from Healthwatch East Riding of Yorkshire provides an in-depth look at recent activities and insights gathered from young people across various communities, focusing on their health, social care, and education needs. It reflects ongoing efforts to listen to youth voices, support families, and improve services.

Some key key points from the document can be viewed below:

School Readiness in Driffield	A comprehensive report on school readiness was published, revealing insights into household dynamics, activity accessibility, and milestone awareness. This led to ten recommendations aimed at improving early identification of challenges and enhancing communication between services and families. The work was recognised in a regional health and wellbeing workshop, highlighting its significance in the community.
SEND Parent Drop-In Sessions	Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) parent drop-in sessions were held in Bridlington, Driffield, and Beverley. These sessions provided safe spaces for families to share their experiences and highlighted several key issues. Among these were inconsistent mental health support in schools, transport challenges for health needs, a lack of social opportunities, and feelings of isolation among families. These sessions were crucial in bringing these issues to light and seeking solutions.
Youth Hubs Engagement	Healthwatch engaged with young people by visiting Bishop Burton College, Hornsea Sixth Form, and Longcroft Sixth Form. They discussed a range of topics including sexual health, mental wellbeing during exams, pharmacy services, dentistry, and the transition to adulthood. Through various interactive methods, they engaged 173 young people, ensuring their voices were heard and their concerns addressed.
Mental Health Concerns	Many students expressed worries about their future, including uncertainty about university, career choices, finances, and exam results. Healthwatch provided resources such as Young Healthy Minds and Healthy Minds to support these students and help them navigate their concerns.
Cervical Screening Awareness	Students shared mixed feelings about changes to cervical screening intervals. Concerns were raised about the increased intervals, the need for better information dissemination, and suspicions about the motivations behind these changes. This highlighted a desire for more education and communication on the topic.
Alcohol and Drink Driving Education	A themed hub at Longcroft Sixth Form addressed myths like “5 and Drive,” emphasising that there is no safe alcohol limit for driving. The hub promoted the importance of verifying the credibility of health information and making informed decisions.
Young Healthwatch Volunteers:	The Young Healthwatch team, composed of volunteers aged 16-25, contributed 25 hours recently. They supported administrative tasks and engaged in training and project development. Their efforts were aimed at enhancing health and social care awareness among youth, making a significant impact on their peers and the community.