Jasmine Hindle, P.E.E.E.R Youth Worker – Weight Management University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

For many of the young people Jasmine Hindle works with, the first step towards better health isn’t a diet plan or a clinic appointment. It’s feeling valued, included and confident enough to believe change is possible.

As a youth worker within the Complications from Excess Weight service at University Hospital Southampton, Jasmine is part of a specialist multidisciplinary team supporting some of the most vulnerable children, young people and families living with obesity and its associated health complications. Her role is unlike almost any other in the NHS — built on trust, relationship and a deep belief in young people’s potential.

Through one-to-one sessions, walk and talks, life skills development and clinical advocacy, Jasmine tailors her support to each young person’s individual circumstances, helping them overcome barriers and make sustainable changes that support healthier, happier lives. A significant part of her work involves creating innovative opportunities and removing the obstacles that can make participation feel impossible.

That philosophy gave rise to Activation, a project Jasmine developed that offers young people the chance to take part in physical activities and gym sessions in a safe, supportive environment. Alongside movement, the project covers budgeting, cooking, food label reading, goal setting and problem solving. But perhaps its most powerful outcome was the community it created — friendships formed, confidence grew, and young people began encouraging one another in ways that no clinical intervention alone could achieve.

“For many of the young people I support, prevention starts with feeling valued, included and confident enough to take that first step,” Jasmine reflects.

“I adore my role and feel incredibly proud to be part of the NHS,” she adds. “I have the privilege of building meaningful relationships with young people and families, helping them recognise their strengths and achieve things they may never have believed possible.”

Jasmine’s work is a vivid, human reminder that the shift from sickness to prevention is about so much more than physical health — it is about giving young people the belief, the skills and the community to thrive.