Reigate and Redhill YMCA is one of only five YMCAs across England to have been selected for a new pilot project, Young Health Champions (YHC), which aims to reduce health inequalities among young people.

Over the next few weeks Reigate and Redhill YMCA will be calling for local young people with disabilities and/or long term health conditions to get involved and volunteer to become YHCs. The volunteers will work as peer leaders in local schools and colleges giving support and leadership to other disabled and non disabled young people. They will discuss the following health services: Sexual Health, Mental health, Healthy Eating and Lifestyles, Disability and Smoking Cessation. The YHC's aim will be to investigate young people's views on these services and whether there are any gaps in service provision. The YHCs will also act as young consultants to local health providers such as hospitals and other health organisations, offering advice on how to make their services more targeted to the needs of both non-disabled and disabled young people.

In return for volunteering regular time and commitment, the YHCs will be awarded a YMCA Fitness Industry Training qualification and will be supported with additional training to become a YMCA young leader.

Amy Fazackerley, Health Volunteer Co-Ordinator from Reigate and Redhill YMCA said: "Evidence suggests that young people are one of the most difficult groups to engage in regards to health and wellbeing. We hope that the Young Health Champions Project will inspire both disabled and non disabled young people to more actively engage in the delivery of health services, whilst simultaneously enabling such services to more adequately meet their needs. Moreover, by training young people with disabilities and/or long term health conditions as peer leaders, we hope to reduce the negative assumptions of disability and to empower both these young people and their peers."

In addition to Reigate and Redhill YMCA, the pilot, which is funded by Department of Health's Health and Social Care Volunteering Fund, is also taking place in North Tyneside, Plymouth, Southend & Worcester YMCAs, and if successful will become a national YMCA programme rolled out by many other YMCAs in England.

Denise Hatton, Chair of the YMCA Physical Activity Steering Committee, said: "We are very excited about launching Young Health Champions and look forward to seeing the impact the project will have at a national and local level. We believe it has the potential to provide a model for engaging young people in health-based activity that can be utilised across the third sector".

If you are interested in volunteering to become a Young Health Champion please contact: Amy Fazackerley at Reigate and Redhill YMCA on 01737 784970 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..