Sheffield Children’s Youth Forum celebrates tenth birthday 

2026 marks a special year for Sheffield Children’s.  

Not only are we gearing up for a special 150th birthday celebration this November, but we also have a group of exceptional young people celebrating a landmark occasion of their own!  

This year, our Youth Forum turns ten years old. That’s ten years of making a positive impact at Sheffield Children’s and supporting teams across the organisation in their shared mission to create a healthier future for children and young people.  

The group celebrated the occasion with a memorable bash at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, which included speeches and acknowledgements, insight into new technology developments, games snacks, crafts and a silent disco! The celebration also brought together Youth Forum members past and present to celebrate the achievements of the group since its formation in August 2016.  

Rebecca, former Youth Forum member, said “Being part of the Sheffield Children’s Youth Forum was a hugely important part of my life. It massively boosted my confidence and gave me real belief in myself and in my ability to use my experiences to make a difference. It was a place where I made lifelong friends, and the impact it had on me has stayed with me ever since!”  

The Youth Forum is made up of current and former patients, or siblings of patients, aged 12 to 19. They are a key voice at Sheffield Children’s, helping keep children and young people at the heart of everything the organisation does – from joining quality reviews of departments to overseeing green projects and injecting creativity and personal experience into the way the organisation works – they are an important part of how Sheffield Children’s works.  

The group meets every month at Sheffield Children’s to talk about the issues that matter most to them, and being a key voice in strategy, policy and developments across the organisation. While helping make a difference, members also get to learn new skills, build their confidence and make new friends  

In the ten years since first coming together. the Sheffield Children’s Youth Forum has met over 120 times and has been involved in the development of over 100 different projects at Sheffield Children’s. These have included the development of the helipad at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, refreshing green spaces across the organisation and even helping us launch our newest building: The Spark, home to the National Centre for Child Health Technology.  

Natalie Parkin, Youth Liaison and Engagement Coordinator and Youth Forum co-lead, said:   

“I am incredibly proud of the Youth Forum and everything it has achieved over the past 10 years. It has been truly heartwarming to see young people join us, grow in confidence and skills, and eventually age out, knowing how much they have developed along the way.”  

“It is a real honour to work alongside the amazing young people of the Youth Forum, and I cannot wait to see what the next 10 years bring and to continue being part of that journey.”  

Yvonne Millard, Chief Nurse, added: 

“Ten years ago, the Youth Forum began with a simple but powerful belief: that young people’s voices matter. A decade later, they’ve proved just how true that is and I am incredibly grateful for their passion, honesty, bravery and unwavering commitment to improving healthcare for children and young people. Here’s to the next 10 years of inspiring change, shaping services and making a difference.” 

We are always looking for current and former patients – and their brothers and sisters – to join the Trust’s Youth Forum. To find out more about the Youth Forum, please email scn-tr.youthcoordinator@nhs.net