It's National Youth Work Week and we have a bonus episode of Are You Listening? for you. Courtesy of former Podcast Crew member and contributor, Jord Hailwood (He/Him) explores how the podcast supported him on his journey.

Jord says that, "Are You Listening? Is such a good gateway into social skills, presentation skills, and confidence. All skills are very universally transferable and can be applied to a lot of jobs or sectors."

We want to bring Are You Listening? back better than ever before but we need the support and funding.

Could you be the missing piece? Contact [email protected] to register your interest in empowering young people's voices.

He has interviewed many amazing people and he most recently had the opportunity to interview Jordan Stephens at the Cheltenham Literature Festival about his new book, Avoidance, Drugs, Heartbreak and Dogs. Jord, we are so proud of the progress that you are making and will always champion what you do! If you haven't already, check out Jord's podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@jordhailwood

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Are You Listening? is back and our first episode of 2024 is

Trigger warning: Mental health, Racism, death

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This episode is brilliantly hosted by Hamzah (He/Him), alongside Syd (He/Him), T (She/Her) and Esah (He/Him), encapsulates a lot of the feelings of young people who have been or are going through the education system. The pressures are all expressed in this episode. If you can relate to what the podcast crew are saying, we would love to hear about your experiences too.

As Hamzah said in his closing address, we really want educators and the government to listen to this and hear what young people have to say. The UCL research showed a very clear relationship between academic pressure and mental ill health.

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2023/aug/link-found-between-academic-pressure-and-mental-health-problems-adolescence

This isn’t a coincidence. We can all work together, educators, youth work practitioners, children’s workers, and governments to make sure that education isn’t resulting in a depletion of young people’s mental health.

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DISCLAIMER: Views and opinions expressed by the podcast hosts and their guests do not necessarily reflect those of Oxfordshire Youth.

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https://youtu.be/eQhx1ifckR4

Are You Listening? is excited to be bringing you three episodes recorded live at our fifth annual Youth in Mind conference with Oxfordshire Mind.

Trigger warning: Mental health, Domestic Abuse, Assault, self-harm

Each year Youth in Mind unites those working with children and young people across Oxfordshire. Drawing on cutting-edge research and the lived experience of young people, the one-day conference aims to improve the mental health of Oxfordshire’s young people by equipping attendees with resources and toolkits to invigorate their practice.

89.42% of Youth in Mind delegates said that the conference deepened their understanding/awareness of children and young people's mental health. 100% said that Youth in Mind 2023 helped them feel part of a wider network that supports children and young people and 91.38% said that Youth in Mind 2023 gave them tools to strengthen their work for positive change around children and young people's mental health. We would love to see you at Youth in Mind 2024.

In this third and final part, Molly (She/her) continues to guide the conversation, this time with Make It Mandatory campaigners, Ithar (She/her) and Jas (She/her), Dr Anisa-Ree Moses (She/her), Director of Learning & Wellbeing Psychology CIC, Gita Lobo (She/her), CEO of Autism Family Support, and In-Spire Sounds, Hamzah (He/him) and Fabian (He/him).

Ithar and Jas explain the Make It Mandatory campaign, its aims, and how they reached 94 thousand signatures on their petition calling for the government to extend RSE to post-16 with the inclusion of domestic abuse and coercive control education. Dr Anisa-Ree Moses, off the back of her talk about authenticity, she spoke to Molly about the necessity for collaborative work across the sector to support children and young people's mental health. Gita Lobo explains why co-production is needed, especially with young people who are autistic, she was part of the panel that spoke about this in a deeper way. Hamzah and Fabian from In-Spire Sounds talk about how the work In-Spire Sounds has done continues to help them in their everyday life, from their mental health to lyric writing, it is a valuable source of support, creativity, and friendship.

This episode begins and ends with Oxfordshire Youth's Director of Innovation and Growth/Deputy CEO, Emmy O'Shaughnessy, sharing her reflections and key messages we hope you take away.

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DISCLAIMER: Views and opinions expressed by the podcast hosts and their guests do not necessarily reflect those of Oxfordshire Youth.

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Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/n9wmUG4nVU0

Are You Listening? is excited to be bringing you three episodes recorded live at our fifth annual Youth in Mind conference with Oxfordshire Mind.

Each year Youth in Mind unites those working with children and young people across Oxfordshire. Drawing on cutting-edge research and the lived experience of young people, the one-day conference aims to improve the mental health of Oxfordshire’s young people by equipping attendees with resources and toolkits to invigorate their practice.

Listen on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RdvGjRGVBM8

Are You Listening? is excited to be bringing you three episodes recorded live at our fifth annual Youth in Mind conference with Oxfordshire Mind.

Trigger warning: Mental health, self-harm

Each year Youth in Mind unites those working with children and young people across Oxfordshire. Drawing on cutting-edge research and the lived experience of young people, the one-day conference aims to improve the mental health of Oxfordshire’s young people by equipping attendees with resources and toolkits to invigorate their practice.

In this first part, Molly (She/Her) expertly guides the conversations between West Kidlington Primary School's Mental Health Champions, Dr Sarah Hughes, the CEO of Mind Charity, and Paul James, the CEO of River Learning Trust.

The Mental Health Champions focus on what they have been doing to transform their school into a safe space to discuss and support children's wellbeing. Dr Sarah Hughes (She/Her) centres her discussion with Molly on the mental health landscape of young people across the UK and how addressing inequalities can shift the dial of mental ill health. Paul James (He/Him) focuses on how River Learning Trust believes that trusted adults and constructive positive relationships are key to supporting young people's mental health and their sense of belonging.

This episode begins and ends with Oxfordshire Youth's Director of Innovation and Growth/Deputy CEO, Emmy O'Shaughnessy, sharing her reflections and key messages we hope you take away.

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DISCLAIMER:

Views and opinions expressed by the podcast hosts and their guests do not necessarily reflect those of Oxfordshire Youth. 

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West Kidlington Primary School: https://www.west-kidlington.oxon.sch.uk/

Mind Charity: https://www.mind.org.uk/

Dr Sarah Hughes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahhughesceo/

River Learning Trust: https://riverlearningtrust.org/

Paul James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-james-33738bb1/

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Watch Are You Listening? on YouTube: https://youtu.be/omIsuySM-PA

Are You Listening? is now on season 4! We’re so excited to be starting off with Health Watch Oxfordshire supporting the beginning of this podcast and this third episode is all about Neurodiversity.

Trigger Warning: Suicide, Depression, Anxiety, Self-Harm, Eating disorders, Abuse, Ableism, Racism, Police Brutality

Hamzah (He/Him) is joined by Molly (She/Her) to explore Neurodiversity. This insightful conversation touches on topics such as the gender diagnosis gap, racism and ableism built into society. They specifically hone in on how professionals can support them and other young people. This is an episode that everyone should listen to, especially if you’re trying to dismantle the internalised ableism. With 1 in 7 people being neurodiverse (15%), this is an important conversation to be had.

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DISCLAIMER:

Views and opinions expressed by the podcast hosts and their guests do not

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Disability support and awareness

ADHD Foundation - https://www.adhdfoundation.org.uk/

Neurodiversity Hub - https://www.neurodiversityhub.org/

The Brain Charity - https://www.thebraincharity.org.uk/what-is-neurodiversity/

CASS - https://casscounselling.co.uk/#:~:text=CASS%20is%20a%20UK%20counselling,lines%20of%20guidance%20and%20assistance.

Donaldsons - https://www.donaldsons.org.uk/ 

Yellow Submarine - https://www.yellowsubmarine.org.uk/

FAAAZE (Faringdon Access All Areas) – https://www.faaaze.org/

My Life My Choice - https://www.mylifemychoice.org.uk/

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About Healthwatch Oxfordshire

Health Watch Oxfordshire are the county’s independent health and social care watchdog.

https://healthwatchoxfordshire.co.uk/services

https://www.facebook.com/HealthwatchOxfordshire

https://twitter.com/healthwatchoxon

https://www.instagram.com/healthwatchoxfordshire/

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Are You Listening? is now on season 4! We’re so excited to be starting off with Health

Trigger Warning: Suicide, Depression, Anxiety, Self-Harm, Eating disorders, Abuse,

Molly (She/Her) is joined by Hamzah (He/Him) and Esah (He/Him) to explore invisible

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DISCLAIMER:

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Disability support and awareness

Yellow Submarine - https://www.yellowsubmarine.org.uk/

FAAAZE (Faringdon Access All Areas) – https://www.faaaze.org/

My Life My Choice - https://www.mylifemychoice.org.uk/

Keen Oxford - https://www.keenoxford.org/

Let's Play Banbury - https://letsplaybanbury.org/

Thomley - https://thomley.org.uk/

Scope - https://www.scope.org.uk/

Cyclability - https://www.cyclability.org/

Mencap - https://www.mencap.org.uk/

Disability Rights UK - https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/

The Royal National Institute of Blind People - https://www.rnib.org.uk/

The Royal National Institute for Deaf People - https://rnid.org.uk/

British Vogue, May 2023 - https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/british-vogue-may-2023-editors-letter

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About Healthwatch Oxfordshire

Health Watch Oxfordshire are the county’s independent health and social care watchdog.

https://healthwatchoxfordshire.co.uk/services

https://www.facebook.com/HealthwatchOxfordshire

https://twitter.com/healthwatchoxon

https://www.instagram.com/healthwatchoxfordshire/

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Watch Are You Listening? On Youtube:  https://youtu.be/0Jb6euzwPHc

Are You Listening? is now on season 4! We’re so excited to

Trigger Warning: Suicide, Depression, Anxiety, Self-Harm,

Hosted by Darius (He/Him), Oxfordshire Youth’s Youth-Led

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DISCLAIMER: Views and opinions expressed by the podcast hosts

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Mental Health Support

CAHMS - https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/camhs/contacts/oxon/

Talking Space Plus - https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/talkingspaceplus/

Samaritans - https://www.samaritans.org/

Childline - https://www.childline.org.uk/

Oxfordshire Mind - https://www.oxfordshiremind.org.uk/

Papyrus UK - https://www.papyrus-uk.org/

The Mix - https://www.themix.org.uk/

The Abingdon Bridge - https://www.theabingdonbridge.org.uk/

Young Minds - https://www.youngminds.org.uk/

Campaign against living miserably - https://www.thecalmzone.net/

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About Healthwatch Oxfordshire

Health Watch Oxfordshire are the county’s independent health

https://healthwatchoxfordshire.co.uk/services

https://www.facebook.com/HealthwatchOxfordshire

https://twitter.com/healthwatchoxon

https://www.instagram.com/healthwatchoxfordshire/

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Watch Are You Listening? On Youtube: https://youtu.be/omtMrFZc9AQ

The final #AreYouListening? episode of the year is here!

Secondary school students Elijah (he/him), Josh (he/him) and Sarah (she/her) discuss black history, sport and sexism. It is such an insightful episode and we hope you enjoy the final one of the year.

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DISCLAIMER: Views and opinions expressed by the podcast hosts and their guests do not necessarily reflect those of Oxfordshire Youth. 

For more information on Oxfordshire Youth's values please visit https://oxfordshireyouth.org/about-us/

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If you have something to say and want to be heard get in touch with us via email [email protected] or DM us on Instagram

@oxfordshireyouth

@dazoxyouthpod

https://youtu.be/h3Le_RBKqTM