Spotlight on Thriving Minds grantees for Mental Health Awareness Week

A year after its launch, Thriving Minds grant funding is benefiting 99 youth organisations and reaching more than 80,000 young people across the UK. Launched in response to the growing youth mental health crisis, Thriving Minds saw a £10 million investment by Julia and Hans Rausing channelled into youth work to support young people. The fund was boosted by an additional £1m from the Westminster Foundation.

To coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week 2023, we are shining the spotlight on some of the grantees who are benefiting from this invaluable support:

Working with young people aged 10-18, Abergele Youth Shed has partnered with its local Mind charity and employed a mental health practitioner for two days a week. In addition to the newly developed ‘Shout it Out’ podcast, a second project is currently producing two short films focusing on mental health, to be submitted to a local film festival. These films are being written, shot and edited entirely by young people. The expertise of the Mind practitioner has enabled Abergele Youth Shed to run regular wellbeing sessions, and offer a six-week course of CBT-based one-to-one support. These sessions will promote lifelong awareness and skills for the young people as an early intervention for anyone struggling with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, anger and isolation.

Thriving Minds funding supports Maximum Edge CIC’s work in the North West of England across schools, sports hubs, homeless hubs and outreach projects.In addition to the creation of a bank of remote resources – including podcasts, video sessions and journals – Maximum Edge’s sessions focus on positive physical and mental health. Young people have increased their physical activity through sport and exercise sessions in the sports hubs, while nature walks linked with the podcasts and journals have supported their mental health. Young people have reported more positive relationships due to changing their environment, accessing the sports hubs and embracing new mentors and role models.

Blueprint Youth UK offers young people aged 18-25 mental health support through adaptable one-to-one sessions. Thriving Minds funding has enabled the organisation to develop its own youth coaching model and offer free youth coaching, which helps young people to identify and achieve goals, and build skills to manage difficulties independently. Often working with young people who are dealing with trauma, Blueprint’s work focuses on supporting them to rebuild a sense of self and mental resilience. In addition, it aims to enhance their wellbeing by helping them to identify who they are, what they are good at and that they are valued members of society.