Who are the MSN CYPC Youth Advisory Forum?
The MSN Youth Advisory Forum (YAF) are a group of young people from different areas of Scotland, who want to take an active part in how cancer services are developed by addressing issues that affect young people with cancer both locally and at a national level.
What does the MSN CYPC Youth Advisory Forum do?
They contribute to how future cancer services are developed by working on projects that aim to improve life for young people with cancer in the future. They are consulted on policy and documents and asked for comments and feedback on areas relating to many areas of teenage and young adult cancer. Provide a young person’s perspective to inform the work of the MSN CYPC Board and sub-groups, using their own experiences to identify gaps and improve the quality of services by providing feedback. Any projects they are involved will have support from the MSN CYPC who can also provide funding if needed.
Why does the MSN CYPC Youth Advisory Forum Matter?
The MSN Youth Advisory Forum matters because it provides young people with the opportunity to express their views and make changes which will influence how the MSN CYPC and Scottish Government design and deliver health services for young people with cancer.
If you would like to know more about the MSN CYPC National Youth Advisory Forum please contact your Clinical Nurse Specialist.
What has the Youth Advisory Forum done?
- Buddy Support Network – developed by the forum some years before covid and concluded set up in 2024 with the training 12 mentors to be peer support for newly diagnosed patients. In February 2025, a formal evaluation of the Youth Advisory Forum was conducted. The feedback received was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the forum’s value and impact.
- Totes Bags – the forum played a key role in designing the bag, selecting the contents for the bags and one forum member wrote a heartfelt letter to be included in each bag, adding a personal and compassionate touch to the initiative.
- Right Decision Toolkit – the forum has played an integral role in shaping the app and involved in testing the working model.
- Clinical Trial Patient Information Leaflets – the forum attended a workshop where they explored ways to improve how clinical trial information is communicated and how to make trials more accessible to this age group with further sessions on improving the communication of clinical trials through digital technology, and equality, diversity, and inclusion in clinical trials.