LauraLynn is incredibly proud of Rian Stack, a young person who accesses LauraLynn's services, who presented the story behind LauraLynn's young adult space project at the EU Presidency Listening to Children and Young People - Challenges in Challenging Settings conference, held on Thursday, 30th July at Dublin Castle.
Alongside Liz O'Donoghue, Assistant Director of Nursing at LauraLynn, Rian shared how speaking up about his own experience helped bring about meaningful change for teenagers and young adults accessing hospice services.
Rian identified that traditional children's hospice environments do not always meet the emotional, social and developmental needs of young people. His input helped shape the development of a dedicated young adult space at LauraLynn, designed to support independence, connection and age-appropriate care.
The space includes access to a PS5 with personal account access, snacks on demand and a calmer environment away from the activity of younger children. Rian's feedback has also supported staff learning around age-appropriate, adult-level communication.
By sharing his ideas and experiences, Rian has helped create a space where teenagers can feel seen, heard and welcomed as young adults. His contribution is an important example of how listening to children and young people can lead to more inclusive and responsive care.
Liz O'Donoghue, Assistant Director of Nursing at LauraLynn, who attended the conference alongside Jennifer Lopez, Clinical Nurse Manager 1 at LauraLynn, as invited guests of Rian's, reflected on the significance of the event:
"Jennifer Lopez and I were privileged to attend the High-Level Conference Listening to Children and Young People: Challenges in Challenging Settings at Dublin Castle as invited guests of Rian Stack. The conference, held as part of Ireland's EU Presidency programme, brought together young people and decision-makers from across Europe to explore how the voices of children and young people can influence policy, services and society. A highlight of the event was Rian sharing his personal experience through a poster presentation. His contribution powerfully demonstrated the impact that one young person's voice can have in shaping services. Rian spoke about his wishes and vision for children's hospice care, advocating not only for his own needs but also for those of other children, adolescents and young adults who may benefit from these services. More than 75 young people participated, representing countries and communities across Europe, and a common theme emerged throughout the conference: action, change and meaningful participation. The event was a powerful reminder that when young people are given opportunities to be heard, their insights can drive real improvements, and it showed the remarkable power of one voice to create positive change for many, as Rian showcased."
Congratulations, Rian, on representing LauraLynn and sharing your story on such an important platform.
