Aimed at individuals aged 12-25, this initiative reimagined mental health support that worked for young people from racialised communities. With the backing of local youth organisations, participants designed and delivered their own social action projects to create a lasting impact.
The goal was to provide young people from Black and Black mixed-heritage backgrounds across the UK to have increased opportunities to participate in social action and decision making in mental health for their communities.
Young Changemakers was a three-plus-year programme which began in April 2021 and was funded by the People’s Postcode Lottery and Comic Relief. UK Youth ran this programme in partnership with The Diana Award and Centre for Mental Health.
We worked with local youth organisations to provide training and support, ensuring they were equipped to empower their Young Changemakers to turn their social action ideas into reality.
Racism is harming young Black people’s mental health and mental health services are not doing enough to mitigate these harms, according to a report from Centre for Mental Health, The Diana Award and UK Youth following the Young Changemakers programme.
The report, A Space To Be Me, shows how social action led by young people can address the reasons for mental health inequalities, for example by addressing hair discrimination faced by young Black women, and by tackling racist micro-aggressions in schools and a lack of effective support in health services.
Find out more Read the reportHow do you feel when someone repeatedly mispronounces your name, or makes no effort to pronounce it correctly?
Do Black and Mixed Heritage girls face sanctions related to their hair at your school?
What anti-racism practices do you have in place at school?
Group 1 – Held an event to raise awareness of Mental Health for racialised communities
Group 2 – Recorded a three-part podcast series that hosted conversations with experts in supporting Black and racialised communities struggling with mental health
Staged three images in their local salon and directed a short film, both of which were used in a social media campaign to highlight challenging situations young Black women may experience.
The Getaway Girls then took part in the Young Changemakers’ accelerator pathway after the success of their work around identity, relationships and mental health, expressed through young people’s hair.
This included meeting inspirational women, including comedian Judi Love, an awareness event at a local salon, where young people could have their hair braided in different styles while the group talked about mental health, and My Hair Story, a social media campaign celebrating black hair.
Getaway Girls. Picture: Sam Toolsie
Highlighting the inequalities in access to safe spaces and facilities for young people from racialised comunities and its impact on Mental Health and wellbeing.
Recorded a podcast series exploring various issues and stigma surrounding Mental Health in the Black Community.
