Funded by local housing association, Livv Housing Group, and community interest company, Evolving Mindset, the Knowsley Young Minds project provides access to free mental health support and training for young people across the borough.
Designed to address the mental health challenges in the local area, Knowsley Young Minds provides a comprehensive education and wellbeing support and training programme for young people aged 14-24.
Delivered by Evolving Mindset, the project supports young people who are experiencing difficulties with their mental health, whilst offering them opportunities to develop their skills and knowledge to educate others.
Young people can access regular workshops, 1-1 mentoring, qualifications in mental health, education support groups, voluntary opportunities and employability support all for free.
The Knowsley Young Minds project also ensures wrap-around care by extending the free support and qualifications to parents, carers and guardians of those who use the service.
Andrew Noon, Director at Evolving Mindset, said: “The aim of the project is to empower young people to be the catalyst of positive mental health change in the Knowsley area. To do this, it’s important that they have access to an education-based service where they feel comfortable to learn more about themselves and how to help others.
“Now in its second year, the project has gone from strength to strength. We’re currently supporting 10 young people with their Level 3 ‘Training & Education’ qualification so that they can deliver mental health support sessions to other young people. We’re also seeing those who have regularly accessed the service step into voluntary roles with us.”
Since the launch of the programme in April 2021, over 120 young people from across the borough have accessed the service. 48 people have engaged in 1-1 sessions with one of Evolving Mindset’s mental health professionals and over 50 family members or carers have attended group and 1-1 sessions.
Evolving Mindset has also provided support to 11 schools in the area as part of the project, teaching over 1,000 children about the importance of our mental health.
Amanda Newton, Executive Director of Customer Insight at Livv Housing Group, said: “The impacts of the pandemic on people’s mental wellbeing have been significant. At Livv we recognise that positive mental health is just as important as good physical health which is why we’re eager to continue to support the fantastic work that the team at Evolving Mindset are doing within our borough.
“With 96 people (so far) gaining mental health qualifications through Knowsley Young Minds, it’s extremely positive to see so many young people accessing the service and taking advantage of the opportunity to develop their knowledge, skills and confidence when it comes to dealing with mental health. We’ve supported 58 of our customers with the service which they tell us has had a massive impact on improving their wellbeing.”
Evolving Mindset is committed to tackling the stigma of mental health by providing mental health education for all. The non-profit organisation has provided mental health support to over 2,000 adults and young people from Merseyside in the past two years. This support is aimed at people with mild to moderate mental health difficulties whose needs do not meet the threshold for secondary mental health services.
For more information about Knowsley Young Minds or Evolving Mindset’s other services, please contact Andrew Noon: andrewnoon@evolvingmindset.co.uk