September 25, 2026 - 183 views
The experiences of children and young people across North Wales are being used to help improve the way public services are designed and delivered.
The 100 Stories Project has brought together 100 personal stories from young people, highlighting the challenges they can face when navigating health, education and other support services.
The project’s findings have now been published in a new report and storytelling toolkit, designed to help organisations turn what they hear from young people into meaningful action.
Among the issues identified were difficulties navigating complex services, gaps in support when young people turn 18, a need for greater understanding of neurodiversity, and barriers created by policies and eligibility criteria.
The stories also highlighted the importance of inclusive education and of giving young people genuine opportunities to thrive.
A key message from the project was that services work better when they are designed around the needs of people, rather than the systems they have to navigate.
The project found that trust is built through consistent relationships and genuine engagement. While many young people valued the support they received, some described difficulties caused by fragmented services, transitions between organisations and support ending when they reached particular age boundaries.
The project is calling for support to grow with young people, greater opportunities for them to help shape services, and clearer evidence that what they say has led to action.
The recommendations include making participation and facilitation a permanent part of organisations, improving co-production with young people and combining personal stories with ongoing evaluation to help improve services.
The project was led by Christy Hoskings, Regional Patient Experience Lead for Children’s Services, with support from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and Wrexham University.
The work has also involved practitioners, community organisations, academics, families and young people from across North Wales.
The Children's Commissioner for Wales spoke at a celebration event marking the launch of the report, emphasising the importance of ensuring children and young people's voices are not only heard but acted upon.
Urtha Felda, independent member and champion for children and young people on the Betsi Cadwaladr Board, also called for organisations across North Wales to work together to tackle the barriers identified through the stories.
The project organisers say the 100 stories provide more than a collection of individual experiences. Taken together, they offer evidence of what young people say is working, what isn't, and where services could change.
The 100 Stories report and Storytelling Toolkit are available online at the Agenda Cymru website.
The project is also planning a podcast series featuring stories from the initiative.
