One Year of Bridging Divides: What It’s Been Like from the Inside as a Youth Leadership Team (YLT) member

I joined the Bridging Divides project after previously working as a co‑researcher on another study about young people’s mental health. When this project officially started on April 1st last year, we kicked things off with a welcome week, and honestly, it was such an exciting way to begin.

The Japan team were able to travel over for it, which meant we got to meet some of their youth team members in person. One of the highlights of the whole week was the day out we had with both the UK and Japan youth teams. It gave us a chance to connect outside the research space, share our experiences, and build relationships that will help us work together over the next five years.

During welcome week, some of us in the YLT gave a presentation about our previous work as co‑researchers. I shared what I’d learned and what I hoped to bring into this new project. Looking back now, even though it’s only been a year, I can definitely see how much I’ve grown and how far I’ve developed those skills.

A huge part of this first year has been making sure youth insight stays at the centre of the project. And honestly? It really has.

Over the summer, I got involved in many parts of the process: helping with work experience sessions, advisory groups, and school workshops to ensure we had diverse perspectives when shaping the study’s measures. I also conducted interviews with young people, which was a meaningful part of understanding their experiences firsthand. I also contributed my ideas to the survey… which was wayyy too long for young people at first (loool), so I helped cut it down and checked it myself. I even got to look at the ethics application and saw it through to acceptance.

During all of this, I started building relationships with team members, relationships that have grown into lovely ones.

Once summer was over, I gave a presentation at the Wellcome Awardee Convening and shared all the amazing input young people had given so far, not knowing that was just the start.

After that, I started going into schools to help with data collection. That meant holding assemblies to explain the project and let students know we’d be running the study at their school. Then, about a week later, we’d return for the actual data collection, which involved carrying loads of suitcases full of iPads so everyone could complete the study.

I’ve also been involved in collecting the bio data from the study and helping to compensate participants afterwards, which has been amazing to be part of. On top of that, I’ve taken part in conference applications, data entry, and so much more.

This year has been full of learning, teamwork, growth, and experiences I never expected. And honestly, to think it’s just the start, I can’t wait to see what the rest of the project has in store.

P.S. How could I forget to mention… I’ll be going to Japan this summer! It’s such an incredible opportunity to deepen these connections. I’ll definitely have to update you on how that goes.