Taegan Lewis Email & Phone Number

The Suicide Prevention Scotland Youth Advisory Group is a passionate group of young people with lived experience of suicide bereavement, suicidal crisis, and/or poor mental health. The group is facilitated by a number of organisations, including Children in Scotland, University of Stirling, COSLA, EmilyTest, and the NSPLG.Together we work to ensure young people are at the centre of Scotland's Creating Hope Together suicide prevention action plan, and voices of lived experience are heard at every level of decision making. We explore the work that is currently being undertaken in line with the plan in Scotland, and work that could be undertaken in future, ensuring it best meets the needs of children and young people affected by suicide across Scotland.Becoming a member of the YAG has provided me an opportunity to harness my lived experience as a multiple suicide attempt survivor and use this to implement positive change; I've had the pleasure of speaking at the Time Space Compassion Gathering held in March 2023, to share my views on this approach to suicidal crisis; and far more.

Remote

#iWill ambassadors are young people aged 10-25 selected in recognition of their volunteering, campaigning, befriending, mentoring, or social action. The role allows young people to share their experience of these opportunities to encourage other young people to get involved while receiving other opportunities and training.

Remote

Steering Group Member at the National Leadership Network.Responsible for decisions regarding funding of projects.Consistent evaluation and monitoring of internal projects.Supporting NLN staff and partners to meet the aims and objectives of the project.Steering the direction of the National Leadership Network and its development, including through promotional activities and grant making.Supporting the recruitment and development of the next cohort of Steering Group Members.

Voluntary role as a member of the Young Person's Guarantee's Youth Leadership Panel. Working within a team of diverse young people across Scotland to make recommendations to the Scottish Government regarding the Young Person's Guarantee. I attend regular meetings with other panel members and partner organisations such as Close The Gap, Who Cares? Scotland, and more - undertaking training and discussing how best to make the guarantee accessible to all young people in Scotland. The panel also attend meetings with members of the Scottish Government to directly inform their work based on research we have undertaken, and consider the work currently being done by partners to the Young Person's Guarantee. Being part of this project has been incredibly rewarding, and I'm pleased to have gained a wealth of skills, including developing my public speaking, written and oral communication, and collaborative leadership.