The group were left alone for half an hour to complete an exercise involving questions and post its.  Anonymity was ensured as a mix of pens and coloured post it's were available.  They were encouraged to be as honest as possible in their responses.

Questions and Responses

• What are the good things about being involved as a YAG member on HeadStrong?  Seeing change; good to see things come to pass; community service; get to help make a difference.
• What are the not so good things about being a member of YAG?  More pizza; meetings are in town; isn't any, but meetings are always in town.

2.      Purpose:

• What do you see as the purpose of the YAG?  Get help to people; make suggestions for the future; to advise Health Action on the mental and physical well being of youth; create better mental health for young people
• Are you happy with this purpose?  Yes or No and why or why not?  Yes; Yes it is relevant; Yes it is extremely important for today's youth.
• Any suggestions for the purpose of the YAG?  Become more involved in community; no not really.

3.      Organisation:

• How often do you want to have meetings of think it works best to have meetings?  Ie different times in year like during sUSstained etc.  About every three weeks, mostly before sUSstained; more before sUSstained less after; monthly probably<o:p></o:p>
• What thoughts do you have on the way meetings are organised and run?  It's pretty good, couldn't get much better; Pipinski you're great; Pip is very organised - good with notes from previous meetings. 

4.      Communication:

• How does phone calling and emailing work for communication with the group?  Would you like to be more in touch with the co-ordinator and/or with the other YAG's?  phones good, I don't have an email number; email and phone calling works; emailing is good; big snapps.
• Do you feel listened to?  If yes or no any other comments?  Absolutely; fantastically; no, I mean YES; wonderfully so.

5.      Any other suggestions, comments or ideas for the future?

• YAG's, HeadStrong, next year, sUSstained, Check Yourself Don't Wreck Yourself... stilt walkers at launch of sUStained; bigger and better sUSstained; get to know public - some people don't know we exist; would like to see sUSstained happen and hear more of Check Yourself Don't Wreck Yourself

"Being part of the group" responses indicate that being involved in making change and community service is important to the YAG.  The fact that some of the group have to travel in from Stoke and Richmond was identified as one of the down sides and having meetings in town was a barrier.

The group's perception of their purpose was to help people, make suggestions, to advise Health Action and to create better mental health for young people.  This purpose was identified as being positive and relevant to the group.  One suggestion was put forward that the group could become more involved in the community.

The group were happy with the organisation of meetings and suggested that having greater frequency before sUSstained annually was useful.  Monthly was suggested as a regular frequency. 

Some members use email and others don't but all agreed that phone calling works for them.  None commented on needing more contact with the co-ordinator or each other.  All felt listened to in meetings.

Other suggestions from the group were to grow the sUSstained exhibition and also have stilt walkers at the opening.  Also better promotion of the project, sUSstained and Check Yourself Don't Wreck Yourself as they felt some people don't know of their existence.

A big thanks to the YAG from 2004!  It has been a pleasure working with you and your input, knowledge and personalities will be sorely missed !