From AI-powered health apps to grandparent-proofed tablets – H&F’s young people are turning family conversations into healthcare solutions
Local students in the White City Innovation District have spent the past six weeks designing health technology specifically aimed at older adults. Their projects, ranging from AI-powered health apps to user-friendly tablets, aim to address the concerns of elderly individuals who may be wary of new technology.
Evangelina Gencheva, a 14-year-old student from Ark Burlington Danes Academy, shared her motivation behind the initiative. “The first thing I did was speak to my grandfather. He told me he doesn’t trust AI, so I designed a device to make him feel safer and build confidence,” Evangelina said.
As part of H&F’s first-ever ‘SuperSquad’ program, a six-week paid work experience for 30 students, Evangelina developed a tablet with a paper-like screen to keep technology simple for older users. “Some older people still read newspapers and use flip phones,” she explained. “This design keeps things straightforward.”
Max Sweeting, 15, from Fulham Cross Academy, focused on creating a system that would help families track inherited health conditions. “My grandad told me family was the most important thing, so I explored how health tech could connect families and help them monitor their health together,” Max explained.
Other students, like Maryam Al-Hakim, 14, from Fulham Cross Girls School, developed an AI-powered health app. The app sends daily reminders to help older people live independently, with the aim of combating the feeling some elderly individuals have of being left behind by advancing technology. “We wanted to create something that puts them first and makes their daily life easier,” Maryam said.
These student innovations are part of H&F Council’s economic growth initiative, Upstream London, which has attracted £6 billion in investment and created 13,000 new jobs since 2017. Cllr Stephen Cowan, Leader of H&F Council, praised the students’ efforts, saying, “The work you’re doing in the life sciences sector will shape the future.”
The program was led by Sherpas, a startup focused on training innovators and entrepreneurs. Kathy Walker, Co-Founder and CEO of Sherpas, expressed her admiration for the students’ creative ideas. “We were thoroughly impressed by the innovative solutions the H&F squad developed,” she said.
In addition, over 100 students gathered on January 13 at Fulham Cross Academy for the ‘Reveal’ event, where they met top scientists and experts from leading biotech companies, including Autolus Therapeutics, Quell Therapeutics, and Medidata Solutions. The event introduced students to career pathways in one of the world’s fastest-growing sectors, continuing H&F’s efforts to connect young talent with STEM industries.
These initiatives, powered by Upstream London Pathway Bonds, have now linked over 500 students with 50 local businesses, further bridging the gap between education and career opportunities in cutting-edge fields.
