DigitalMe Discusses
On 15 September the next season of DigitalMe Discusses events began, with a specially invited panel focused on young people leaving care, and their difficulties accessing health services. This is to be followed with an upcoming event on 21 October, where young people from North Tyneside will be discussing issues around community and integration through the lens of asylum seekers and refugees which, given recent global events, couldn’t be more relevant.
The commission for DigitalMe Care Leavers and Healthcare came to Digital Voice via a partnership between Newcastle Gateshead CCG, Newcastle City Council and Gateshead Council. They entrusted the potentially triggering workshop process to the skilled and experienced facilitators of Digital Voice, who also had to run the scripting, avatar design work and sound recording remotely through the challenges posed by the continued lockdowns.
The workshop process highlighted several important concerns around continuity and communication within social services, offering a raw and powerful snapshot into the seldom heard lives of young people living in care. However, this DigitalMe project investigated beyond these issues to constructively examine what happens next, once young people have left care and are forced to navigate adult services without the support and guidance of a stable family.
The young participants shared their difficulties with their own self confidence and mental health, as well as practical barriers such as poverty, travel expenses that often prevent care leavers from accessing health appointments and paying for prescriptions. This was all sensitively discussed with experienced DigitalMe me facilitators, and the young people were also supported by local authority workers known to them for additional emotional and practical support to access the sessions. The Digital Voice team, led by animator and editor Ronnie, then put the recorded voices of the young people to the avatars they themselves had drawn.
DigitalMe Care Leavers animation
While participants in Digital Voice’s DigitalMe programme often remain anonymous behind avatars, several bravely chose to appear on the panel for DigitalMe Discusses, putting forward their voices to a discussion that also included key decision makers and commissioners from across care, transport and health services in Newcastle and Gateshead.
DigitalMe Discusses Care Leavers
Attendance for this online event was high, with over 40 people joining the audience, but the real measure of success was the feedback and actions that the panel and audience took away, committed to improving services and outcomes for young care leavers accessing healthcare.
“Thanks for a great session everyone - especially all the young people. Lots of issues and ideas to take forward. I pledge that we will try and do that with Councillors and senior decision makers in Newcastle. Great film! Huge round of applause!”
“I love the videos. They will be a great resource to train foster carers, social workers, leaving care teams, GPs, teachers. The list is endless. The topics covered were all important and we need to learn lessons and get things right for our next generations of young people leaving care. Thank you”
“I felt the session was very powerful. I am looking forward to many of these issues being addressed to ensure our care leavers have continued support.”
Digital Voice would like to invite you to the next free online DigitalMe Discusses event, exploring the themes of refugees and asylum seekers in North Tyneside, told from the perspective of local young people. DigitalMe Discusses: Refugees and Asylum Seekers is a discussion panel from Digital Voice and partners North Tyneside Council, North Tyneside Youth Council and the North Tyneside Young Mayor due to take place on Thursday October 21st at 5pm - 6pm (with additional networking time 6-6.30pm).
If you would like to be in the audience for the next DigitalMe Discusses simply complete this simple Google Form to register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1q0G9XpjQ7C_l9ZZgWSfbqXRdOZt2SzQPQgG4f2dTeKI/edit but should you have any issues accessing the form you can email the Digital Voice team directly at victoria@digitalvoice.org.uk
