Health Check
Campaign
Thread & Fable was commissioned in 2023 by NHS Dorset to help create a campaign to improve uptake of learning disability health checks from young adults aged 14-25 across the region.
People with a learning disability are more than three times as likely to die of preventable causes than those without one.* Recommendations from the LeDeR reports highlighted the importance of early interventions. Health checks were identified as key for building good relationships with primary care services and to build regular health and wellbeing support into young people's lives as they transition into adulthood.
The campaign needed to engage young adults directly, as well as inform and equip key stakeholders; GP practices, schools and colleges, parents and carers, including social care.
We recruited and worked with a youth panel, involving young people with learning disabilities across the region, to inform our messaging and creative. We used stakeholder interviews and survey feedback to inform our approach to create tools for key audience groups as well.
The campaign is currently being rolled out across key groups, alongside a suite of tools to help stakeholders signpost people to health checks they are entitled to.
Looking after my health, looking after me
Our youth panel were clear that they wanted the health check film to be about them taking control of their own health and wellbeing. The focus was to promote health and wellbeing as something that let them get on with all the other things in their lives, not just about having an appointment.
Dorset Youth
Youth Engagement
Working with a youth panel recruited through the steering group, we were able to align the creative process to co-create the campaign. We were also fortunate to film with young adults at Weymouth College, Chatterboxes Youth Club and a young adult with their carer.
"Being involved in the health check project has been great as we have been able to give feedback on our own experiences and help make resources accessible to as many people as possible."
Youth panellist
Stakeholders
Dorset Youth
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Key influences on young adults included parents, carers, teachers and GP practices. Content was developed to help inform and engage these key audiences, as well as provide toolkits to support them in sharing the campaign as it rolled out.
