Spotlight Interview- Volunteering with Champions for Change (C4C)
We chat with one of our youth volunteers about what it means to them to be part of the Mental Health Manifesto Project.
How long have you been involved in the project?
I have been involved in the project for almost three years, I first attended a wellbeing walk when I was fourteen and then I joined C4C (volunteer group) on a Monday evening.
What has your experience of the project been since you joined?
My experience has been an enjoyable one - the events have been welcoming, positive (not toxic positivity - a decent positive), friendly and everyone has been understanding. I’m always happy to be there! Those are the consistent experiences I’ve felt since the very start. It is safe, it feels safe and everyone looks out for one another. A recent example of this is when at one of the SPW led events ( The Christmas Big Meet Up), the single parents were looking out for other kids who are not their own.
Do you feel the project has helped you?
It has helped me in different ways! One way it has helped me is socially. I’ve interacted with all different age groups which has been beneficial. I’ve realised that I now have the knowledge and understanding of how being in a single-parent household may or may not have impacted on my family. I understand how the different types of single-parent families may affect young people differently (coparenting single parents, solo single parents, bereaved single parents etc). It’s been important to have a space with a reason to talk about the experiences we’ve had from being in single parent households over the years. I’ve had the freedom to speak and this has genuinely meant alot to me.
It has helped me emotionally in that it has enabled me to get to the root cause of why I have struggled with certain things and behaved in certain ways. I’ve also witnessed first-hand other teens and children struggling with their emotions and I believe it stems from some of the complexities that can come from being in a single-parent household.
It has helped me mentally as it gives me something to look forward to and leave the house for. I have struggled with my mental health before and throughout my time in the SPW project. One of my consistent challenges has been around leaving the house and this is why I’ve appreciated SPW being so flexible around attendance/events. I think it’s been so nice that SPW are flexible because I don't feel the pressure to go to events and it means when I do go, it feels like people understand that there are reasons why I can't go and it feels like I’ve never left. At the back of my mind, I’ve known you're always there for me. It feels like we are all together and not alone!
The only thing I’ve struggled with the project is the thought of the project ending and the thought of losing the relationships I’ve built. I have experienced loss (through a lack of relationships being prominent in my life) and therefore, the positive and consistent relationships I do make are even more valuable to me.
What have been your favourite parts?
I really really really like the Big Meet Ups. They give me something to be proud of, for example the craft activities. I enjoy meeting new people, the therapy animals and all the variety of things going on.
I really did like the Morfa Bay residential trip too, that was a huge step for me and it was worth it! I liked the social times, the times by the sea and the fact that it felt we were like a big family.
I also really liked going to Penarth for the C4C scavenger hunt around charity shops to find weird items for The big Meet Up.
I felt useful when I made the vegetable soup for everyone at the Connection Cafe. This was my idea and new initiative and SPW staff helped me run with this idea. I like that you take people's ideas on board. I like the Connection Cafe’s, they are also good for work experience and something to add to our CV whilst also being fun.
What’s been your least favourite?
My least favourite parts has been when staff have to leave and leaving events are also sad. I also don’t like photo opportunities either.
What can other organisations learn from SPW in how they support young people and their mental health?
Be flexible - have zero pressure around attending events/expectations at events unless agreed.
Work alongside your young people, journey with them and not apart from them.
Hire people who are experienced with mental health challenges themselves or know people in their lives who have had/have mental health challenges.
Have passionate and compassionate staff members
Trust your young people and what they are capable of and being supportive of that can help them see how resilient they are.
Listen and hype individual ideas up - even when the ideas sound mad or crazy!
Ensure the space you hold is and feels safe to the young people (keep working on ways to help the community feel safe).
Respect individuals regardless of their age - respect them through your actions and this will help to build trust.
If you can not grant young people's requests, be honest and give them natural reasons as to why these can’t be done. Be willing to compromise and do what you can to honour their requests in whatever way you can.
Have a diverse team with differences - everyone brings unique perspectives!
Be welcoming to every person regardless of their different backgrounds!
Be open to learning/relearning from young people
Have yellow lanyards at events for young people who do not want their photo’s taken (really important)
Have a sensory table at events and make sure young people know about it and can access it when needed.
Listen to what young people actually need and be reactive to their needs!
Become trained, aware and understanding of neurodivergent families and be willing to compromise to find ways to support them.
Is there anything else you would like to add that you think we should know?
Keep doing what you're doing, you’ve built a good system and it works. You take on advice given to you and act upon it and it’s working!
If you’d like to join us at C4C in Cardiff we meet 5.30pm-7pm at Ysgol Glan Morfa on Mondays in Term time and our Swansea ABI group meet on Fridays 5-6.30pm.