“This is where I need to be, these feel like my people”- 4 main Themes From Our Young Person’s Project

A Thematic Analysis of Field Notes from July to Sept, for the young person’s project, Mental Health Manifesto- Action For Our Future.

Prepared by Dr Michaela James, Swansea University, Hannah Spacey, Public Health Wales, Anna Boggiani-Lloyd, Single Parents Wellbeing

A Thematic Analysis of Field Notes from Year 1 of Young Person’s Project- Mental Health Manifesto, Action For Our Future. Funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and in partnership with Mental Health Foundation, Public Health Wales and Swansea University.

Prepared by  Dr Michaela James, Swansea University and Hannah Spacey, Public Health Wales

The theme of our August big meet up was “Home”. We were interested in finding out what the concept of home meant to young people from single households, and how their experiences may impact what is important to them in a “home”. One of our young people collected the findings.

Spotlight Interview- Eden and Bullies Out

Eden is a young person volunteer for Bullies Out. In this blog Eden shares what she has learnt about handling tricky situations with peers at school, and why it’s important to speak out and get the right support. Eden also shares more about the important work that Bullies Out are doing.

It’s really hard dealing with our emotions around being a single parent. We wanted to put some practical and useful advice around how to support children having nightmares, plus we wanted other single parents to know that they aren’t alone with tackling this issue.

Let’s have a look at why we dream and have nightmares.

Mary Atkinson is an ward-winning author and complementary therapist, is co-founder of the Story Massage Programme, a fun and inclusive way of combining the benefits of positive nurturing touch with the creativity of stories, poems, and songs. She talks about how this simple concept can help you connect and interact with your child.

The concept of love languages was created by couples counsellor Dr. Gary Chapman. He had noticed that people differ in what sort of interactions make them feel connected to their partner. In 1997, Dr. Chapman wrote a book with Dr. Ross Campbell about how the five love languages can apply to children as well.

Emily has a few hats that she wears including working on the Widening Participation Team, single parent and imspirational young person. In this spotlight Emily talks about the teams vision for young people, juggling being a single parent and what would be in Emily’s Mental Health Manifesto.

The world changed when covid hit and one of the resounding messages we understood clearly from the lockdowns and the restrictions on our lives, was that connection is vital.

Why is connection such a valuable tool for us parents to use though? And how do we make it really effective? Find out in this blog by our Creative Lead Facilitator Rachel Brydon.

Here is how to make a super simple meditation / mindful jar.

Not feeling like you’re the most creative? Worried that your child won’t sit in front of zoom and get involved? Don’t know anyone else who attends? If there are always feels like an absolute mass of reasons why you shouldn’t get involved with something that is unknown, we get it, the unknown can feel scary. We want to give you the opportunity to not only get involved, but enjoy the whole process, so have a little read of this and if you have any other questions send them our way.

As part of our Young Person’s Project we wanted our team wanted to share their experiences of mental health, what has helped them and advice for other young people.

As part of our Young Person’s Project we wanted our team wanted to share their experiences of mental health, what has helped them and advice for other young people.

Etholiad Senedd Ieuenctid Cymru 2021, Welsh Youth Parliament Elections 2021, means that young people aged between 11- 18 years old can vote for a candidate in their area. Voting will take place between 1-22nd November 2021.

We interviewed Amelia ahead of the youth parliament elections and we think you’ll agree that Amelia is a leader of the future.

Candidate Amelia is a focused young person with heart and a real ambition to make a difference in her community. Plus Amelia is growing up in a single parent household and is a real inspiration to other young people.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you have really wanted to talk with your child about online safety, but the words just didn’t seem to come very easily? Over the years of delivering Better Together Online Safety’s workshops I have heard parents give various reasons for this.

A single dad’s guide to talking to daughters about periods and a low down of the products out there. Including sustainable options.

Have you got fond memories of being read to, escaping into books or would you not be seen dead with a book in your hand?Whatever your experience, I can promise the benefits of reading together with your child far outweigh any negatives. This is why I wanted to start with why reading matters, before moving in to books I use in my Play Therapy practice and at home with my son. Reading means that children are introduced to people and families that do and don’t look like them. Their minds are broadened, their ideas sharpened and their potentials and possibilities unlocked. If you’re not a big reading fan, audio books TOGETHER and read aloud on YouTube (other streaming channels are available!) will have a similar effect.

We asked our amazing single parent members what advise they had for other single parents as we enter into the world of homeschooling again during this pandemic. We hope you will find comfort in their words of wisdom and be able to pick up some useful advise and resources. We’ve rounded them up into our 7 top tips. We have also included a section around the advise from teachers and for SEN children.

I’m so happy to see that there is a lot more awareness at raising girls in a more gender-neutral way, teaching them to choose which toys they’d like to play with, not directing them to certain types of clothing, and raising them to be strong and independent. We are seeing the rise of lots of little feminists and even the media changing with amazing Disney role models such as Moana.