West Notts students to participate in debate over social issues

The Health Debate will see more than 60 students given the opportunity to put topical health problems and statistics out for discussion with a panel of eight high-profile members of the community on Tuesday (6th May).

Issues such as smoking, substance misuse, obesity in young people, teenage pregnancy and sexual health, poverty and mental health will be put to the panel to help dispel myths, offer advice and hear the views of students at the Mansfield-based college.

The panel includes Coun Chris Baron, leader of Ashfield District Council, Alison Cooper and Carla Rainbow, from Hetty’s drug and alcohol advisory service,

Keith Sudbury, on behalf of the Anthony Nolan blood cancer charity, and Angela Knight, paediatric nurse specialist from The Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

As the debate progresses, each student will have a red and a green voting card to indicate their approval or disapproval of responses given by the panel.

Jamie Wragg, team leader of the West Notts Students’ Union health and wellbeing team, said: “This debate is something that will enable our students to have a voice, to have some difficult and controversial questions answered by expert individuals who have the health and wellbeing of young people in mind.

“We’re very excited to be hosting something like this and I’m confident our students will pose some interesting and thought-provoking questions and it will be good to hear the many views of the professionals who we’re welcoming to the panel.”