At BrainWaves, we are passionate about improving adolescent mental health and wellbeing in schools. But just as importantly, we believe young people themselves should benefit directly from being part of that journey, not just in the future, but right now.

When young people are given the opportunity to shape research, something powerful happens: they feel heard, valued, and empowered. Rather than being passive participants, they become active contributors, developing confidence, communication skills, and a stronger sense of agency over the issues that affect their lives.

We’ve already seen these benefits in action through our previous Young Persons Advisory Group (YPAG) of students aged 16+. Not only did their insights significantly improve our research, but students themselves gained valuable experience in sharing their perspectives, influencing real-world projects, and seeing their ideas come to life.

Now, we’re excited to extend these opportunities even further.

A New Opportunity for Younger Students

We have now launched a new Young Persons Advisory Group (YPAG) for students aged 11–14 from diverse backgrounds across the UK.

This group offers young people a unique chance to:

• Build confidence by expressing their ideas in a supportive environment
• Develop key skills such as communication, critical thinking, and teamwork
• Play a meaningful role in shaping conversations around mental health in schools
• See how their input directly influences national surveys, lessons, and resources
• Connect with peers and realise they are not alone in their experiences

By getting involved, students don’t just contribute to research they help create a system that better understands and supports them and their peers. Their voices influence what topics are prioritised, how support is delivered, and how mental health is discussed across schools nationwide. Most importantly, students gain a sense of ownership over the changes happening in their schools and beyond.

Naomi French works with schools and colleges across the country via our Research Partner network. With a background in teaching, she has seen first hand the impact including youth voice can have on processes traditionally designed for, rather than with them. She says, “The BrainWaves YPAG provides an empowering, tangible way for young people to help shape the focus of research that is designed with them in mind. Not only will this make what we are doing more impactful, but it will allow them to make their voices heard where it matters, directly in the heart of our research.

Get Involved
If you would like your school to get involved in future opportunities, please contact our team at support@brainwaveshub.org