A Mentally Healthy Future For Young People From Single Parent Households.
SPW have been awarded £900,472 by The National Lottery Community Fund to lead on an exciting new project funded called A Mental Health Manifesto- Action for our future.
This project is in partnership with Public Health Wales, Swansea University, Mental Health Foundation and Heads Above the Waves.
This project is a response to the impact of covid on 10-24 year olds mental health, plus that single parents have been identified as one of the groups most adversely affected by covid.
There are a total of 8 part time post being created as part of this 4 year project. Covering Cardiff, Newport and Swansea.
Over the 4 years we will discover, define, develop and deliver a programme of resilience tools and activities around ensuring that 10-24 year olds from a single parent household have a mentally healthy future. The project has children and young people leading, steering, designing and implementing the change that they would like to see to systems, services and their communities.
This will be done by engaging and opening up conversations with young people and asking them questions about ‘What is their Mental health Manifesto?’ and ‘What makes them feel happy?’ A pilot for the project has already seen Go Karting, Cinema trips and Pizza nights help increase the mental wellbeing of young people.
Talia Stimpson, Young Person’s Project Officer:
“Over the past year, we have been engaging with parents who are desperately trying to help there childrens mental health and overall confidence. We have had a heart breaking amount of reports describing the deterioration of there child’s self esteam during and post the pandemic. It’s been wonderful being able to come alongside single parents and build relationships with them and their older children. I’ve had the privilege of witnessing first hand the impact of investment and empowerment through our previous events in seeing young people gradually rebuild confidence. I am thrilled that with this funding we know we can do so much more to support this process and reach so many more families. There is a mental health crisis on our hands and with this money, we know we are able to have a greater impact on the whole families wellbeing. It’s our aim to ensure these children affected will go on to have mentally healthy and bright futures.”
Dr Alisha Davies, Head of Research at Public Health Wales:
“We know that young people’s mental health has been severely impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic, and that urgent action is required to ensure healthy and happy futures for those affected.
“Our role in this exciting project will be to use our expertise to evaluate and inform the project’s activities using evidence-based methodologies, ensuring that its development is built upon current knowledge of the highest standards.”
Amy Holland, Director at Single Parents Wellbeing:
"This innovative project, which is coproduced and follows an action learning approach, will ensure that 10-24 year olds, from a single parent household's voices will be heard and they will be empowered to build a mentally healthy future. The 5 amazing partners all bring something great to the project and we can't wait to get started."
Mental Health Foundation:
“Our role in a Mental Health Manifesto will see us take the lead on the development of training programmes to give children and young people the skills to be meaningfully and effectively involved in co-production throughout the project. We will also provide support for project staff and lead on dissemination of learning to promote the voices of young people, instigate change and ensure a positive long term impact on their mental health. Our focus on prevention will help children and young people to build their resilience, mental health and wellbeing for a brighter future. The generous funding from the National Lottery Community Fund will enable us to work directly with a vulnerable and often overlooked group of children and young people.”
We spoke to some of the SPW members who have 10-24 year olds living in their household and have been involved in the MOF project so far:
"SPW has been like a crutch with their support. Taught me skills to manage my MH & lift me up on bad days, keeping me and my family going.
I’ve experienced positivity, workshops where I’ve learn new things, built strong friendships and created an understanding social circle.
My children have benefitted to know that they are not the ONLY kids in a single parent family. Its not JUST what they experience at home. It has made them more accepting of others and situations. The project has built their confidence during those awkward teen years & helped keep their MH healthy." SPW Member
"If it wasn't for SPW I don't know what I would have done as a single parent, they have been a massive support resource and I have built friendships from it.
Regarding my child she has benefited by seeing other children and adults in the same situation as us and that has been a massive help with her asking questions opening up and realising that we are normal.
We have been on trips, walk,s craft workshops and other meets both in person and online.
During covid the drawing classes that we both virtually attended helped us to have a common topic to talk about laugh about which helped bridge our relationship. Thank you SPW." SPW Member
"SPW helped me out during a really difficult time not long after I separated from my son’s father. There were days when he would be ring me while I was in the middle of a SPW workshop and I was immediately able to deal with the conversation in a way that was better for my mental health. I also learned from other single parents that my feelings were normal. More recently the club my son has attended has really given him something to focus on at a time when he was feeling isolated because of Covid. I think with the funding for activities for older children, so many more children and their families could also benefit." SPW Member
We are really looking forward to continuing the great work already started on this project, and to work with the exciting partnership. Check out our Young Person’s Zone to keep up to date with this project and to get resources for young people.