The Question

How can the Expert Patients Programme (EPP) tailor their workshops to young people, and make sure they found out about them in relevant and engaging ways?​

The Approach

With courses designed and marketed to adults, we needed to learn from young people’s experiences and opinions to ensure the EPP were relevant and appealing to them too.

We carried out a digital ethnography diary with 40 young people across ethnicities and differing health conditions, as well as volunteers, to explore a range of lived experiences. One to one depth interviews in home or at convenient central locations were then conducted, alongside parent/carer/support if needed, using narrative based research techniques and visual stimulus to identify appeal and need.​

The Outcome

A toolkit of principles and guidelines was developed and provided for the EPP to apply to the design of the workshop incorporating format, information styles, content and length/style of sessions, with detailed considerations tailored to age and demographic.

The EPP has continued to go from strength to strength empowering young people with long term health conditions and encouraging volunteering.​