UK Youth launches project to shape mental health support for young black people
Fiona Simpson
Friday, September 3, 2021
A new project will see young people who have experienced poor mental health and racial injustice shape the way support is delivered.
The Young Changemakers programme will see 16- to 25-year-olds “given the opportunity to change mental health support for the better and affect real change”, according to UK Youth, which is behind the initiative.
“They will get involved with policy influencing, engaging and upskilling frontline practitioners, changing public attitudes, and peer-to-peer support,” the charity said.
The project has received £650,000 in funding from the People’s Postcode Lottery and is backed by the Centre for Mental Health and the Diana Award.
Young Changemakers will be led by a group of eight “co-producers” who will help steer the training and recruitment of other young people, sharing their ideas and insight in all aspects of the programme.
One co-producer, Lola, said: “I want to ensure that black voices are amplified on the topic of our own mental health.
“This programme is important as it provides young black people with a chance to discuss and plan actions for improving our own mental health in changing the way services are delivered. With all the cuts to youth services our voices have been lost and disregarded but this programme will provide the space for changemakers to express their concerns and solutions to identify the problems.”
Recruitment for the Young Changemakers programme starts on 7 September, with inductions held in October.
Ndidi Okezie, chief executive of UK Youth, added: “Over the past year, there has been a real social awakening to the responsibilities we all have to understand the experiences of others better.
“Both race and mental health have been firmly placed ‘on the agenda’ of critical issues; in very concrete ways. But there is still inadequate support for young people’s mental health, particularly from communities of colour.”
