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Lived Experience and Youth Partnership

SMART NETWORK

Nothing About Young People Without Young People

At SMART STEP, we believe that young people are not simply beneficiaries of mental health services. They are experts in their own lives.

Every stage of SMART STEP is designed and continuously improved in partnership with young people, especially those with lived experience of anxiety, depression, emotional distress and recovery.

This is not consultation. It is partnership.

Join the Smart Network Learn How You Can Contribute

Our Vision

Lived experience recognised as expertise

Through the Smart Network, young people can contribute their perspectives, experiences and ideas to the development of better mental health programmes, services and research.

To build a youth mental health system where lived experience is valued as expertise, young people are equal partners in decision-making, and every intervention is grounded in the realities of their lives.

Why Lived Experience Matters

Young people understand challenges that textbooks and clinical guidelines cannot always capture.

Their insights help us develop interventions that are culturally relevant, practical and effective.

Your experience, ideas and perspective can help SMART STEP create better support for young people.

They know:

  • What makes it difficult to seek help
  • What creates hope
  • What support actually feels helpful
  • How families, schools and communities influence wellbeing
  • How digital technologies should be designed
  • How services can become more welcoming and accessible

The SMART STEP Co-Production Model

Young People Are Partners Across Every Stage

Young people are involved throughout the development, delivery, research and evaluation of SMART STEP.

Young people help us:

  • Identify priority mental health needs
  • Define meaningful outcomes
  • Shape programme content
  • Adapt interventions for local culture
  • Develop digital resources
  • Review language and communication materials

Through co-design, SMART STEP ensures that programmes and tools reflect the realities of young people's lives.

Join Our Co-Design Activities

Young people contribute as:

  • Youth Ambassadors
  • Peer Facilitators
  • Workshop Co-Facilitators
  • Youth Trainers
  • Community Champions
  • Digital Content Creators

They bring authenticity, trust and relatability to programme delivery.

Explore Youth Participation Opportunities

Young people actively participate in research by:

  • Identifying research priorities
  • Refining research questions
  • Reviewing study materials
  • Advising on recruitment
  • Interpreting findings
  • Co-authoring publications
  • Presenting research nationally and internationally

Research about young people should always include young people.

Join the Youth Research Network

Young people help evaluate:

  • Programme acceptability
  • Engagement
  • Digital experience
  • Implementation barriers
  • Service quality
  • Outcome measures

Their feedback drives continuous improvement.

Help Us Improve SMART STEP

Young people sit alongside researchers, clinicians and policymakers through:

  • Youth Advisory Groups
  • Steering Committees
  • Research Advisory Panels
  • Digital Innovation Groups
  • Community Advisory Boards
  • Policy Consultations

They participate in decisions, not just discussions.

Register for Youth Leadership Opportunities

Youth Voices Throughout SMART STEP

Lived experience at the centre of care

The SMART STEP pathway places lived experience at the centre of care.

Before Support

Young people help design:

  • Outreach campaigns
  • Awareness materials
  • Digital platforms
  • School engagement strategies

During Support

Young people shape:

  • Therapy materials
  • Self-help tools
  • App design
  • Group activities
  • Feedback systems

After Support

Young people contribute to:

  • Evaluation
  • Advocacy
  • Peer mentoring
  • Research
  • Policy recommendations

Their journey continues beyond receiving care.

Opportunities for Young People

There are many ways to become involved

From advisory roles to hands-on delivery, there is a role suited to your interests, experience and availability.

Youth Advisor
Lived Experience Partner
Youth Researcher
Peer Advocate
Digital Innovation Partner
Community Ambassador
Mental Health Champion
Youth Trainer
Research Intern
Policy Advocate

Whether you have personal lived experience, care for someone who does, or are passionate about improving youth mental health, your perspective matters.

You do not need to have professional mental health experience to join. You can choose opportunities that match your interests, experience and availability.

Find Your Role Receive Youth Network Updates

Our Principles for Meaningful Engagement

Respectful, meaningful and safe

SMART STEP is committed to engagement that is respectful, meaningful and safe.

Inclusive

Young people from diverse backgrounds, cultures and communities are actively welcomed.

Safe

Participation is psychologically safe, trauma-informed and respectful.

Equitable

Young people participate as equal partners.

Supported

Training, mentoring and wellbeing support are provided throughout participation.

Accessible

Flexible opportunities are available both online and in person.

Ethical

Participation is voluntary, confidential and appropriately safeguarded.

Valued

Young people's time, expertise and contributions are recognised and fairly compensated wherever possible.

The SMART STEP Youth Partnership Pathway

Your Youth Partnership Pathway

Young people can move through different levels of involvement as their confidence, skills and interests grow.

  1. 1
    Engage
  2. 2
    Learn
  3. 3
    Co-Design
  4. 4
    Deliver
  5. 5
    Evaluate
  6. 6
    Lead
  7. 7
    Advocate

You may begin by attending a consultation, reviewing content or sharing feedback.

Over time, you may choose to become involved in programme delivery, research, youth leadership or advocacy.

There is no single pathway. You can participate in the way that works best for you.

Our Youth Advisory Group

Young people working alongside programme teams

The SMART STEP Youth Advisory Group works alongside researchers, clinicians and programme teams to ensure every aspect of SMART STEP reflects young people's priorities.

The Youth Advisory Group provides a space where young people can share ideas, review work and participate in decisions that affect youth mental health programmes.

The group contributes to:

  • Intervention development
  • Digital innovation
  • Implementation research
  • Communications
  • Dissemination
  • Advocacy
  • Policy engagement
  • Future programme development

Young people contribute to:

  • Priority setting
  • Grant development
  • Intervention adaptation
  • Implementation science
  • Dissemination
  • Knowledge translation
  • Conference presentations
  • Scientific publications

Lived Experience in Research

Embedding lived experience throughout the research cycle

SMART STEP is committed to embedding lived experience throughout the research cycle.

This approach strengthens the relevance, quality and impact of youth mental health research.

Young people can contribute according to their interests and experience, with appropriate guidance and support from the SMART STEP team.

Register Your Interest in Youth Research

Join the Smart Network

There is a place for you at SMART STEP.

Whether you are:

  • Living with personal experience of mental health challenges
  • Supporting a friend or family member
  • Passionate about youth wellbeing
  • Interested in research
  • Excited by digital innovation
  • Interested in mental health communication
  • Willing to support programmes in schools, universities or communities

By joining the Smart Network, you can receive information about:

  • Youth advisory opportunities
  • Research activities
  • Co-design workshops
  • Digital tool reviews
  • Mental health campaigns
  • Training and learning opportunities
  • Events and consultations
  • Youth leadership activities

Together, we can design better mental health support for young people, by young people.

Join the Smart Network Stay Connected for Future Opportunities

Youth Network Registration

Add Your Voice to SMART STEP

Complete the form to join the Smart Network and receive information about future opportunities.


Stay Connected

Not ready to participate yet?

You can still stay connected with SMART STEP and receive updates about youth mental health programmes, research, events and future opportunities.

Follow SMART STEP on social media, explore our programmes and share the Youth Network with other young people who may want to contribute.

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Or join the full Youth Network

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