Creating co-designed, mixed-media videos to support young people in Wales as they transition from paediatric to adult diabetes care

The transition from paediatric to adult healthcare can be a daunting milestone for young people with diabetes. 

SEREN Connect, a nationwide programme in Wales, identified a need for engaging, relatable resources that could help young people know there’s support for them available during this transition. 

What was the problem?

Moving away from a familiar paediatric team can feel overwhelming, but the challenge isn’t just about clinical care – it’s about navigating young adulthood. The project needed to address the real-world experiences and worries of young people as they gain independence. This includes practical, everyday topics like learning to drive, socialising and drinking safely, and managing their condition while growing up.

The content needed to be bilingual, youth-friendly, and authentically representative of the diverse experiences within the diabetes community in Wales.

Our Approach

We used co-design to ensure that the videos best reflected the lived experience of young people with diabetes. We held a series of in-person workshops in Swansea, bringing together young people and parents to lead the creative process.

Across two co-design sessions, we explored the challenges and ‘pain points’ young people and families experience during transitions. Young people took the lead in shaping the content and format, reviewing reference videos, and choosing animation styles that resonated with them.

We developed a mixed-media approach that combined youth-friendly animations with live-action interviews. Our team worked closely with the young people, some of whom even got involved during our filming day!

Outcomes

We produced three bilingual videos in English and Welsh that are now being rolled out across NHS Wales. 

The videos cover the transition journey from the perspectives of young people, their families, and healthcare professionals – tackling everything from the medical hand-off to the realities of managing diabetes as a young adult.

The project saw incredible commitment from the young participants, ensuring the final product was ‘for them and by them.’

Sara Crowley, NHS Diabetes Transitional Care National Co-ordinator, shared:

“I absolutely love them, and I couldn’t be more proud of the engagement we had with young people throughout the making of this project. The way your team has brought it to life is fantastic. I’d also like to echo what a genuinely lovely experience it was, from start to finish, working with your team. Please pass on my sincere thanks to everyone who helped make this project happen. I already have a team eager to start using the videos.”

The project’s impact ripples beyond the initial outcomes. One of the young participants, Imogen, used the connections made with Diabetes UK staff during the filming day to join the Together Type 1 programme. She has since flourished as a Young Leader, delivering talks that extend the project’s impact far beyond the screen.

We can help you do the same

Contact daniele@promo.cymru if you are interested in creating media through co-production.