Fernways School student Ems Webster, has been selected to act as a Youth Researcher in an important county-wide project in Surrey.
Ems, who is 15, applied to take part in the In Our Own Words project which trains and supports young people to become researchers and lead their own social research projects to understand other young people's experiences of mental health and wellbeing as well as mental health support.
In Our Own Words is a collaboration between Surrey County Council, MindWorks, Surrey University, Surrey Youth Focus and Healthwatch and aims to learn more about mental health for young people in Surrey, from young people themselves.
The Year 10 pupil attends Fernways School in Windlesham, a school which supports children with autism and associated learning needs. She applied for the programme, which runs until October this year, via Surrey County Council’s website.
Ems said: “I was chosen to be one of around 15 young people who are taking part. I think I was chosen because I am neuro-divergent and having the experiences I have had, I would be able to speak to young people while having an awareness of their experiences and an understanding of what can be done to improve the support that’s available for us.”
As part of the project, Ems will not only have a fantastic achievement to add to her CV, but will also present her findings and make suggestions to leaders in Surrey on young people's experiences and what services can do to improve as well as what works well – feeding back on what other young people think and need.
As well as social research training from Surrey University, including learning how to create research questions, collect and analyse data and present findings, Ems will also have the opportunity to network with wider groups of young people take part in various workshops and effect change through liaison with key decision makers across Surrey. Ems will also be paid for her work.
Speaking about Fernways Ems said: “I’ve been at Fernways for over a year and it’s been really good for me and I’ve been able to do well because I’m in such a better environment for me.
“I felt quite behind because I had missed so much school betore coming to Fernways, but most people have missed school and so I didn’t feel like that any more. I really like learning new things and I’m getting ready to sit my GCSEs next.
“I really like that we have animals in school, the gerbils. I look after them in the school holidays and they’re an important part of my day at school too. When I’m finished my work, I can go and spend time with them. Or sometimes, if I’m not feeling great, I will go and spend time with them then too and they realty help.”