Background Youth engagement provides opportunities for young people to make a contribution, raise awareness of services and is a platform for workforce development (HM Government, 2010; Adams, Nursaw & Smith, 2017). Working with the community raises awareness, supports and ‘builds capacity and resilience to care for those at the end of life’ (Hospice UK, 2017). Student volunteering is a growing phenomenon, as they seek to enhance their employability skills and contribute to the local community (Williamson, Wildbur, Bell et al., 2017).

Aims To create a programme of activities to support the development of knowledge and skills of young people and to enhance the delivery of different services across the organisation as part of our transforming care agenda.

Methods May 2017 – May 2020: feedback, evaluations, recruitment, engagement figures, fundraising. May 2017 – January 2018: fundraising figures, recruitment, engagement figures. January 2018 – April 2018: recruitment, engagement figures, academic year overview. Progress of youth engagement outlined in the LOROS Community Engagement Strategy/Action Plan.

Results May 2017 to January 2018 – 49 events=3575 engaged, 23 new volunteers, £5096.71 NCS Projects.

Work Experience Student 2017: ‘…it has taught me so many valuable lessons not just about working in a hospice, but about life and the resilience of the human spirit at the toughest of moments.’

Primary School Project: ‘This was one of the most valuable experiences the children have had.’

Hospice School: ‘It was an amazing experience and would recommend to anyone thinking of going into health care.’

January 2018 to April 2018 – 28 events=1683 engaged, 131 enterprise volunteers, 18 hospice volunteers.

Next four months – 22 events booked, system input for data of young people, Youth Ambassador Programme.

Conclusion The evaluation and feedback shows a positive change within the hospice environment. We have learnt by developing our safeguarding, work experience and volunteering policies. As a result, further funding is being sought for projects encompassed by this role.