Inside the Well Centre: A student placement experience

In July 2026, we were delighted to welcome two students from Eastern University in Philadelphia, USA, for a three-day placement with The Well Centre and The Well Centre Charity.  Based at our Oasis St Martin’s hub, Billinda and Nahum contributed to a range of projects, met members of the team, and gained insight into how The Well Centre supports young people’s physical, mental and social wellbeing. Here, they reflect on what they learned, what stood out to them, and how their experience compared with youth healthcare in the United States.

Getting to understand the work of the Well Centre

During our placement at The Well Centre and the Charity, we were involved in a variety of projects that helped us understand the service and what makes it such a unique and important place for young people. 

These included reviewing charity’s social media platforms and strategy, researching organisations that work alongside The Well Centre at Oasis St Martin’s, creating a video to help visitors find their way from the street to reception, speaking with members of the team about their roles, and reviewing the website to consider how it could be made clearer and more user-friendly for adolescents.

What stood out about youth healthcare in the UK

There are differences between the US and UK in how healthcare is provided for young people.  In the US, healthcare is often funded through private insurance, employer insurance, or out-of-pocket payments. In contrast, the UK’s NHS-funded model is funded through taxation, reducing financial pressure – and stress - on patients.  Adolescents can access many services without needing to bring an insurance card or worry about how a medical bill will be paid.

Rules relating to confidentiality was another important difference we noticed. Both the UK and the United States take confidentiality seriously and have laws around young people’s rights and medical consent. However, in the US., when a young person is covered by a parent or guardian’s health insurance, notices or bills linked to medical services may be sent to the policyholder. This can make it harder for young people to seek support privately. In the UK, care through the NHS is not tied to a parent’s private insurance in the same way, which can provide young people with more consistent confidentiality.

For us, this felt especially important. Many young people want someone safe to talk to, but parents or guardians cannot always be the first source of support. Seeing a safeguarded environment where young people can be vulnerable, listened to, and helped without worrying about cost or privacy was powerful. Confidentiality can also vary depending on state laws, the type of care being received and insurance policies. This means that young people in the United States may have fewer assurances that their healthcare will remain private compared with young people accessing services through The Well Centre and the wider UK system.

One of the biggest differences we noticed between the UK and the United States was the way care is organised. At The Well Centre, young people can access a GP, health and wellbeing practitioners, mental health support and social services in one place. Rather than treating physical and mental health separately, the focus is on supporting the whole person.

In the United States, healthcare can be more fragmented. Access may depend on insurance, family finances, transport, and the state in which a family lives. Young people can receive similar support, but services are often separate and may involve insurance approvals, additional costs or long waiting lists. Although integrated care is becoming more common in the U.S., it is not yet the standard for adolescents.

Experiencing Oasis St Martin’s and the Wider Community

Our time at Oasis St Martin’s also helped us understand the wider community surrounding The Well Centre. The charities and organisations based there create a safety net for children and young adults who may not otherwise receive the support they need and deserve.  Everyone deserves the chance to learn and grow in a caring community.