Sarah Allen

What does a typical day look like for you?

I facilitate all things Youth Forum, Young Adult Forum, Parent Carer Voice, and some Staff Engagement. Basically, my job is to make sure that the right voices are in the room and that they are heard and supported. I am, by nature, a 'people person' and spend my days engaging with young people, parents, carers and staff. This could be in meetings, workshops, or at events. I love data and spreadsheets, and process, and this is important too. It's so great to be part of a team where the voice of lived experience is considered essential to the work. I love my job!

What inspired you to join the Cambridge Children’s Hospital Project?

As a former secondary school PE and Maths Teacher, and Head of Year, I have spent my working life working alongside and learning from young people, parents, carers and colleagues, and making things fun! I ran my own business for 14 years teaching childbirth education, antenatal and postnatal exercise, and have taught quite a lot of people in Cambridge to swim (as babies and toddlers). I was then funded by Sport England to get young people fit, and moved into Student Voice at a local sixth form college where I stayed for 12 years. Having seen how the voices of young people can create change and have impact, working in coproduction and engagement on this incredible project felt like an obvious and exciting next step. I can't wait to walk through the hospital doors when we open, alongside all those who have played a part in getting this right.

Share one meaningful or interesting part of the project that you’ve contributed to

Setting up the Youth and Young Adult Forums with young people from across the region has been really exciting. They are so generous in using their lived experience to make sure that this hospital works for everyone, and hearing their stories is both inspirational and humbling. I am so very proud of them all and enjoy celebrating their success.

Describe the Cambridge Children’s Hospital project in three words

• Transformational
• Excellent
• Child and family-focused!

What excites you most about the new Cambridge Children’s Hospital?

The integrated model of care to treat the whole child and to support the family around the child, and the fact that the voices of patients, carers and staff have been embedded throughout.