As part of Rampworx continued commitment to developing and assisting vulnerable young people from the local area, we recently applied to the Mark Mc Queen Foundation for funding to host a series of free educational workshops and sports coaching designed to educate, engage and inform a targeted group of disadvantaged and vulnerable young people aged 14 and over about mental health issues, problems, treatments and services that are available to them. Crucially, it was about educating them around the signs, symptoms and support which is available to them if they, or their friends were struggling with a mental health issue.
For those of you who don’t know, the Mark Mc Foundation has been set up by the McQueen family from Merseyside in loving memory of their son Mark, who tragically took his own life in June 2007. The Foundation supports young men struggling with emotional and mental health issues via community projects and specialist charities. The Foundation’s ultimately wishes to help young men find their place in the world. You can view this excellent foundation here – http://www.markmcqueenfoundation.com
The Mark Mc Queen Foundation kindly agreed to fund a 6 week education and sports based project to challenge a range of mental health issues. With the help of Carmel Farley at Liverpool NHS, this project will is a campaign to directly challenge the issues, stigma and negative mind-set about mental health issues. So far, it has targeted young people who (or who have friends) who are experiencing mental health problems and invited them to take part in a series of private taster sessions at Rampworx to help boost their confidence and self esteem. The workshops, which have been well attended and inspired some health discussion about mental health issues, have had a particular focus on depression and suicide which is the biggest killer in young men aged 18-24 and a major concern for young females as they make the transition into adulthood, particularly in relation to body image, sex and relationships.
The project will be working towards a climactic finale in February 2015, whereby, the young people will be helping Rampworx, Liverpool NHS, CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) and Chris Carney from Threshold Festival, host a Mental Health Awareness Day with live bands, music, extreme sports and coaching designed to raise awareness about mental health issues amongst young people. From now, until the end of the project, Rampworx and Liverpool NHS will help signpost young people to other relevant professional services available, such as YPAS, CAMHS, and Liverpool/Sefton NHS.
For more information about this, or other development projects that you want to support, or get involved in please contact Tony Berry on 0151 530 1500.
