Sharing Healthwatch Greenwich’s HPV learning across South London
As one of the few VCSE voices in the room, we were able to bring a strong community and patient perspective into discussions that were often clinically focused. We shared learning from our HPV project about what meaningful engagement looks like in practice, particularly when working with children and young people and with communities who are often underserved by mainstream health messaging. Our contribution highlighted the importance of trust, relevance and authenticity, and the need for approaches that are shaped by lived experience rather than imposed from outside.
A key part of our presentation focused on our peer research and co-production model, which supports young people to contribute safely and confidently to conversations about health and prevention. This helped challenge assumptions about how children and young people engage with topics such as HPV vaccination, and reinforced that effective engagement takes time, sustained relationships and respect for people’s autonomy and decision-making.
There was strong interest from attendees, with questions about how we build trust with communities, how young people are supported to take part, and how similar approaches could be adapted elsewhere. The conversations also reinforced the importance of ethical practice when involving lived experience voices, including clear boundaries, safeguarding and organisational support, so that participation remains positive and sustainable.
We were proud to see the HPV project recognised as a strong example of community-led, equity-focused prevention work, and to help position Greenwich as a place where resident insight is taken seriously in shaping health and care services. We would like to thank the Greenwich Cancer Steering Group, and the South East London Cancer Alliance (SELCA) for commissioning and championing the HPV project Their support has enabled community-led insight from Greenwich to inform wider conversations about cancer prevention and vaccination, and to help ensure that resident voices continue to shape system thinking across South East London.
