Championing the importance of listening to children and young people
Good mental health allows children to thrive, think clearly, develop socially and emotionally and to learn. But right now, across the UK many children and young people are struggling with their mental health.
Long term challenges including the pandemic, climate change, poverty and the cost of living crisis have taken their toll. Today, over 1 million children in the UK have a diagnosable mental health condition.
BBC Children in Need-funded projects across the UK are providing mental health support and the positive relationships needed to help children and young people to be the best they can be.
We spoke to Youth Co-creation Lead, Elsie, from #BeeWell based in Greater Manchester to find out more about what they do and how BBC Children in Need funding is helping #BeeWell to make a difference.
#BeeWell supports young people both in and out of school with it being a goal, “to make wellbeing as important as school attainment.”
By doing a survey with young people in schools, #BeeWell can look at the results and decide how best to support and encourage changes in policy and practice that will improve young people’s wellbeing.
They also work with local authorities, young people’s charities and youth projects to promote and improve wellbeing and to amplify youth voices.
We have trained young people in 5 areas of Greater Manchester to be health and wellbeing champions at their schools.
So how does the team at #BeeWell support young people and encourage young people to use their voices? Elsie explains, “We run a youth steering group who help to develop youth centred messages and ideas for improving wellbeing.
We offer opportunities to schools and neighbourhoods to get involved in wellbeing projects. Our youth steering group have been involved in commissioning and funding projects to support wellbeing for other young people in Greater Manchester.”
Funding from BBC Children in Need helps #BeeWell to go the extra mile when it comes to supporting young people.
Elsie tells us about how this impacts her team. “We have the time and capacity in the team to be really youth centred and to do good and ethical youth participation.”
Not only that, the funding has also helped #BeeWell to form the #BeeWell Champions. “We have trained young people in 5 areas of Greater Manchester to be health and wellbeing champions at their schools.”
The positive impact on children and young people is clear, with Elsie explaining that their work at #BeeWell results in, “better wellbeing, more opportunities to have a say in what happens in Greater Manchester and more knowledge and confidence for talking about mental health and wellbeing and supporting their peers.”
Thank you! Without you we wouldn’t be able to involve so many young people in directing our work and improving wellbeing.
What would happen if #BeeWell didn’t have access to funding from BBC Children in Need?
“My job wouldn’t exist and youth voice work would be more limited. The young health champions work wouldn’t have happened and we wouldn’t have so much capacity for going out and about in the community to find out more about wellbeing. The survey is great but it doesn’t tell us the ‘why’ behind the different statistics. I can go and talk to groups and get their insight into what’s going on.”
Finally, we asked Elsie if there is anything she would like to say to BBC Children in Need supporters? “Thank you! Without you we wouldn’t be able to involve so many young people in directing our work and improving wellbeing. It really makes a difference.”
