Last summer, we held the very first editorial meeting for our brand new Cambridge Children's Press Pack. These enthusiastic young people, recruited from the Children's Network, were keen to develop their media skills, grow in confidence, and raise awareness of the hospital project. As we move towards recruiting a new cohort of Press Packers, Hannah from Peterborough looks back on an amazing year.
I am Hannah. I am 15 years old. For me, being part of the Cambridge Children's Press pack has meant that I can have my voice heard through video, print, and audio. Alisha, Macie, Olina and Sarah (as well as myself) have all been involved. Anna and Andy from the communications team made us feel very welcome and comfortable during the whole process. I am so grateful to them for the opportunity to have done this.
The reason why I was interested to get involved in the hospital project is because I believe that people from all backgrounds should be heard. Being the first hospital in the UK to bring together the care of mental and physical health, it is important that multiple points of view are heard and considered. We have had lots of workshops and meetings where we discussed the hospital and our different ideas. I have been involved in the design process, which gave me an insight into how the whole process works. I am very intrigued and excited to see how the hospital looks when it is built!
During the Press Pack I was involved in a range of activities. In December 2021, I interviewed Sri Velandy, a consultant paediatric liaison psychiatrist. It was great to hear her point of view as she already had experience of working in a hospital. I did a voiceover for a very important video for the hospital fundraising campaign, including a few pieces to camera. I now feel more confident doing recordings in front of a camera.
A highlight of my Press Pack experience was the Cambridgeshire County Day. All the Press Packers came together for the first time. We all clicked immediately and we had such a great time together. I also met many new people and they were all so lovely. It was amazing to see how many people the hospital is bringing together. Meeting the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge was also a big highlight of the day.
Being part of the Press Pack has been such a great experience for me. I am grateful to have been part of something so amazing and I’m very happy to have made many new friendships. I hope that the next group of Press Packers will enjoy the experience as much as I did.
Thoughts from Cambridge Children's Press Pack!
Link: https://youtu.be/W7C9HE9BrC0
If you are interested in joining the 2022-23 Cambridge Children's Press Pack, you can find the role description and a link to register your interest here. (opens in a new tab)