Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) has teamed up with young service users to co-create a participation booklet for under 25s.

Navigation through the ins and outs of the Trust's participation programme has been made simpler, thanks to a jargon-busting page, clear and practical information on how to get involved, and spotlighting the valuable contributions of past participants.

The booklet's release is aptly timed, arriving in sync with Children's Mental Health Week, February 5-11, the 10th year of the annual UK-wide awareness initiative.

Liv, an NSFT peer support worker, said: “The young person’s participation group made me feel like I was doing something meaningful and my voice was being heard.

"Participation has helped me gain confidence, build my self-esteem, learn new IT skills, become more confident.

"This booklet has been a way to ensure that service users are not only supported but feel seen and understood.

"I’m delighted to be a part of this and know that we are sharing useful information to young people to help shape their recovery journey.”

People participation lead for children, families and young people’s services, Lucy North, said: “We are committed to placing participation and involvement at the heart of all we do.

"We are grateful for all of the young people who support our work and are able to have a meaningful impact on our projects.

"This booklet is an example of true co-production and we hope that it is helpful for young people.

"We also hope it helps us grow the number of young participants who have their say to improve the experience and outcomes of those who use our services.”

The booklet, unfurled over a 12-month period, presents a snapshot of the participation journey with the trust, from regular meetings with groups like Particip8 in Suffolk, sharing experiences and making changes at a local level, to opportunities in Norfolk and Waveney highlighted through the Young People’s Participation News, a co-produced monthly newsletter.