Renfrew YMCA
We know how important it is to talk about how you’re feeling, especially during lockdowns. We met weekly online and then to ‘walk and talk’ about our lives.
Group
Renfrew YMCA
Organisation
Renfrew YMCA
Location
Paisley / In person
Category
Empower
Output
Wellbeing resources
Frequency
Weekly
What we made
We focussed on spending time together, doing activities and talking. Some of the time we were at home, so our youth workers would drop off materials for our online sessions. We played games and did activities that supported our wellbeing. When we were able to get outside we would ‘walk and talk’ together for an hour or two.
By meeting regularly we gained confidence and have been able to get involved in other activities, as well as taking a lead on our sessions together. Our project was more about wellbeing and connection than on making something specific.
“I didn’t realise how extensive mental health was, I hope to be able to share my story one day to help someone else who might need it.” — Young Person
How we made it
It was important to us to understand what wellbeing is and be able to ask questions to understand this. Our youth workers would share their experiences too.
We could share our feelings on Renfrew YMCA’s social media accounts, so other young people knew that we were all experiencing hard times. Some of us led activities, such as quizzes, and some of us have become mental health ambassadors so we can carry on helping other young people.
Having these conversations has helped us to build our confidence and awareness of wellbeing, we hope that others will benefit from our stories in the future too.
“We learned how vital the work we do is. Throughout the year of lockdown we didn't see young people... so just dropping the stuff off and them seeing us... seeing the joy in their faces. Someone who wasn't mum and dad. It was a lovely thing to see.” — Youth worker
