Every child and young person deserves to feel supported and heard, especially in healthcare. Niamh McGregor, a young volunteer, proud Health Rights Defender, and Winner of Children’s Health Scotland’s: Healthcare Rights Award, is using her kindness and lived experiences to help children and young people feel more confident, informed, and included in their healthcare journey.
Finding her voice
Niamh’s journey began when she was facing her own health challenges. Niamh was first introduced to Children’s Health Scotland when she was struggling with anxiety around hospitals and doctors, her goal was to learn more about her rights and how to manage stressful situations.
“It was recommended to me so I could learn more about my health rights and what I can do in these stressful situations,”
What began as a personal step soon became a mission. Niamh joined the Health Rights Defenders, a group of young people who use their experiences to help shape better healthcare for others. She started attending meetings, helping at events, and supporting other young people through the SMS Programmes.
“It’s quite important to me because it gives me the ability to use my own voice to help other people like me.”
Leading by example
Niamh’s compassion has not gone unnoticed. Her mum secretly nominated her for the Healthcare Rights Award, recognising how her dedication and kindness were helping others.
Winning the award was a surprise, but also deeply meaningful:
“I’m very happy that I was lucky enough to win the award,” she says. “To me, it’s confirmation that my efforts are helping as I hoped.”
One of her proudest moments as a Health Rights Defender was co-creating a video to raise awareness about children’s health rights.
Niamh said that “Having children be in control of these projects creates a message that can’t easily be ignored,”
Giving back as a young volunteer
Niamh also gives her time as a young volunteer in the SMS Programmes. Her inspiration came from seeing others volunteer when she took part in the programme herself.
“The idea was given to me before and I had seen someone else do it when I was in the programme. I thought it looked like fun to be able to help out, and it was!”
For Niamh, volunteering has been about connection and spreading kindness.
“I liked meeting the kids who were doing the programme. It’s different people who all have different experiences but we’re all still connected around health. I like doing things like that because it helps people. I get to see people who are where I was before and help them.”
Through this, Niamh has grown in confidence and developed new skills.
“My ability to communicate with people has gone up. When I started volunteering, I don’t think I talked much. But I met a child on the programme who was really nervous, and I was able to talk to her, which helped me, and I think it helped her as well!”
Inspiring others
Niamh is passionate about encouraging other young people to try volunteering too.
“I think if you volunteer for things like the programme it helps with social skills and health rights. If you already have knowledge of health rights, then being a volunteer helps you learn more because you find out different things every session, other people have different experiences from your own.”
Her kindness, courage, and voice are helping to shape a more supportive and inclusive future for children’s health. Whether she’s speaking up in meetings, helping run events, or simply sitting with a nervous child who reminds her of herself, Niamh is proving that one young person really can make a difference.
From all of us: Thank you, Niamh. You are a true Health Rights Defender, your story is inspiring a brighter future for children and young people all across Scotland.
To find out more about Children’s Health Scotland’s SMS Programmes visit us here: https://www.childrenshealthscotland.org/smsreturns/
