Spotlight Interview- Natalie Coombs- The Power Up Project in partnership with Platfform
Natalie Coombs, Lead service manager talks to us about Platfform, a mental health and social change charity and it’s work on the Power Up Project - providing frontline wellbeing support to young people experiencing challenges with their mental health.
Tell us about Platfform and how it started?
Platfform is the mental health and social change charity - we are a platform for connection, transformation and social change. Platfform have operated in Wales for 30 years, firstly under the name Gofal until 2019 when we rebranded to Platfform.
We work with people experiencing challenges with their mental health, and with communities who want to create a greater sense of connection, ownership and wellbeing in the places they live.
We’re driven by the belief that a strengths based approach is the foundation to sustainable wellbeing for everyone. We do not believe that people or communities are “broken” or in need of fixing.
Our work takes a trauma informed approach to understanding mental health and emotional distress, and we see the mental health, and wider health, social care and public sector systems as no longer fit for purpose. Based on illness and deficit models, they deny people the hope and agency to heal.
As part of a growing social movement, we’re working towards a fundamental shift in the way that public services are provided, so that they support people towards sustainable wellbeing and the life of their choice.
What is your vision?
Our overarching vision is sustainable wellbeing for all.
We work passionately in pursuit of two things:
To change the narrative around mental health, offering up an alternative to the dominant paradigm of psychiatric diagnosis. This alternative focuses on the role that trauma, life experiences and socio-economic circumstances have on our mental health and our ability to recover.
We pursue this change to help broaden public perceptions, and to transform how people experiencing mental distress can ask for and receive help.
To make society’s ‘helping systems’ work better for people having the toughest times.
We work in alignment with our values of connected, curious, compassionate, and brave.
Can you tell us more about your Power Up Project?
Power Up is a young people’s wellbeing and social action project for young people aged 10-25 living in Cardiff and The Vale of Glamorgan.
Power Up is a partnership project, with Platfform working alongside the following organisations:
EYST
YMCA Cardiff
iBme UK
Llamau
ProMo Cymru
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Cardiff Council
Vale of Glamorgan Council
Cardiff Metropolitan University
The project provides frontline wellbeing support to young people experiencing challenges with their mental health. This includes 1-1 coaching sessions, the delivery of wellbeing programmes, and regular social groups.
Power Up takes a trauma and relationally informed approach to providing support, focusing on connection, community, and creativity.
Alongside providing a wellbeing service, Power Up also supports young people to create social change within their communities and within Wales.
Can you tell us more about the Hangout?
The Hangout is a wellbeing & mental health service for young people in Cardiff and the Vale aged 11-18. The aim of The Hangout is simple: to be a place where young people can connect with others, feel part of their community and access mental health support.
We offer drop-in and booked 1-1 wellbeing support, wellbeing-focused activity sessions, general activity sessions, signposting and volunteering opportunities.
We're open 7 days a week at 26-28 Churchill way, Cardiff, CF10 2DY. We're an out of hours service so that we can make sure that young people have access to mental health and wellbeing support when they need it.
Can you share an example of how your service has impacted someone you’re supporting?
We recently supported a young person who was struggling with low self esteem and confidence, and their main goal was to become more outgoing and feel more comfortable in peer groups.
The young person accessed Power Up’ 1-1 support where they worked with a Wellbeing Practitioner to build confidence through coaching, fun activities, and creative strategies.
On completing the 1-1 support, teachers noticed that the young person was engaging more enthusiastically during group State of Mind sessions. During the last 1-1 support session, the young person reported that they felt they were ‘less shy’ now and were more willing to offer their input and opinions around groups of people that they were new to. The YP also made personal achievements, going from identifying that they enjoyed boxing to eventually signing up to an after-school boxing club to pursue this passion. They said that the support had made them ‘really happy’.
Where can people find you online?
Main Platfform website: www.platfform.org
Platfform 4 Young People Website: www.platfform4yp.org
Instagram/X: @platfform4yp
Email: youngpeople@platfform.org