From the winner's desk - My Experience with the Peaceful Health Programme

The following was written by the winner of the Peaceful Health Programme Competition - Najah.

I’m a sixth form student from East London, and I joined the Peaceful Health Programme after receiving a message about the opportunity. From the beginning, it felt like a welcoming and supportive space to explore healthcare in a creative and meaningful way. 

Throughout the programme, I received a lot of encouragement and guidance from the First 4 Health Group team. I’m especially grateful to Shivani for regularly checking in with me and offering support, which really helped as I balanced the project alongside my studies. I was also given valuable advice on my presentation skills, including how to structure my ideas clearly and communicate them with confidence, which made a big difference to my final pitch. 

One of the most impactful parts of the programme was being paired with a GP who has a strong interest in digital health. Their feedback helped me think more realistically about how my idea could work in practice, particularly around accessibility, digital inclusion, and how technology can support community mental health. 

The final event was a really positive experience. It was great to network with other students, NHS professionals, and community leaders in a supportive and inspiring environment. Sharing ideas with people who care about improving healthcare made the experience even more motivating. 

The programme also allowed us to choose an area of interest, which was important to me as I hope to study clinical psychology in the future. This led to the development of Voices Unheard: East London Speaks, a community-based mental health project focused on listening, early intervention, and care in the community. 

Looking ahead, the next step for this project is to work alongside people who share similar interests in mental health, digital health, and community care, and to continue collaborating with the First 4 Health Group team. I hope this will allow Voices Unheard to develop further and contribute to meaningful, long-term impact on mental health support in the community. 

Overall, the Peaceful Health Programme has been an inspiring and confidence-building experience, and I’m very thankful to First 4 Health Group for the opportunity, mentorship, and support throughout the journey. 

Najah