young people
Are you a Fearless Femme?
A new grassroots movement to challenge sexism, reduce mental health stigma, and save the lives of young women across the world has kicked off in Scotland.
Young women are the highest-risk group for mental illness in the UK. Research estimates 46% of young women between 11 and 21 years old have sought out treatment for mental health conditions including anxiety, depression and eating disorders.
Research has shown that psychological distress amongst young women is linked to the growing pressures that this group faces: pressures to look beautiful and thin in an age of ‘airbrushing’; social media pressures; stress at school and university; and an increase in sexual harassment. Very often, these pressures lead to low self-esteem and body image problems, with evidence suggesting that young girls start to worry about their body image from the age of 11.
Existing magazines targeting young women can compound these problems with picture perfect models gracing every page. Fearless Femme sets about challenging these cultural norms by empowering young women to overcome stress and other mental health challenges through its new online magazine and growing community of ‘rebelles’, as well as its research and campaigns for policy change.
Want to know more? Fearless Femme can be found at https://www.fearlessfemme.co.uk/our-story/
YOYP 2018
Year of Young People 2018 is an opportunity for generations to come together and celebrate our nation’s young people.
It is a platform for our young people (8 to 26). It will give them a stronger voice on issues which affect their lives, showcase their ideas and talents, and ultimately, aim to challenge status quo and create a more positive perception of them in society.
Young people’s voices have been at the heart of the Year, since planning started in 2015. After leading an in-depth consultation with hundreds of their peers, they made recommendations on what the top priorities and goals should be.
To take forward these ideas, a group of 35 young people, Communic18, was created. Their role is to influence how the Year will be run, while ensuring young people’s voices are heard and acted upon. In addition, there are more than 500 Ambassadors, who are promoting local activities and creating opportunities in their communities to challenge negative stereotypes of young people.
Activity for the Year is based around six key themes, which were developed by young people and will guide everything done:
Culture
Share and celebrate young people’s talent and contribution to Scottish culture and arts.
Education
Allow young people to have more say in their education and learning.
Enterprise and regeneration
Celebrate young people’s role in innovation, entrepreneurship and the Scottish economy as well as making Scotland a greener and more pleasant place to live.
Equality and discrimination
Recognise the positive impact of young people in Scotland and encourage them to take the lead in challenging all forms of prejudice and discrimination.
Health and wellbeing
Make sure young people have the chance to lead healthy, active lives and understand the importance of mental health and resilience.
Participation
Give young people the chance to influence decisions that affect their lives
Over the next few weeks K & M Communities will look at issues affecting young people today, we hope you enjoy.
Want to get involved or know more, visit http://yoyp2018.scot/
Linking Generations
Connections between generations are proven to enrich the lives of both young and seniors in long-lasting and meaningful ways.
When young people find ways to engage and develop relationships with the elderly, these experiences can build self-esteem, develop leadership skills, and encourage a lifelong commitment to volunteering.
For seniors, intergenerational connections provide the opportunity to transfer knowledge and wisdom, acknowledge self-worth, and feel they are contributing members of society.
In today’s world, many young people are experiencing less interaction with seniors because of homogenous neighborhoods, dispersed extended families, and increasing segregation of seniors living in care facilities or in isolation
Some of the benefits of intergenerational work include:
- Creation of age friendly communities.
- All generations have a lot to both teach and learn from each other and contribute to lifelong learning.
- Tackles issues around stereotyping and ageism.
- Increases understanding and respect between older people and younger people.
- Chance to make new friends and combats social isolation.
Mental Muscle
Mentally strong kids turn into resilient adults who are equipped to tackle whatever life throws their way. Challenges, hardship, and setbacks are inevitable. Teaching kids to build mental muscle can make them resilient. It’s also the key to helping them reach their greatest potential in life.
Here’s three things you can do to help equip your kids for the future.
- Teach your kids to think realistically
Children need to develop healthy self-talk. Simply thinking positive isn’t the solution, this doesn’t prepare children for real-life challenges. A child who can reframe negative thinking by coming up with a solution is more resilient. For example, instead of saying I’m going to fail that physics test, a resilient child will tell herself I can pass this test by
Teach children to challenge their negative thoughts and prove themselves wrong.studying hard and asking for help.
- Teach your kids to manage their emotions
A national university students found that more than 60 percent of young people don’t feel emotionally prepared for the realities of life. They lack the skills to deal with uncomfortable emotions, like loneliness, sadness, and anxiety.
It’s important to educate kids about their emotions and how those emotions influence them. A child who can say, “I’m feeling anxious and that anxiety makes me want to avoid scary things,” will be better equipped to face his fears. He’ll also have a better understanding of how to cope with his emotions and he’ll have more confidence in his ability to handle discomfort. Validate your children’s emotions and teach them they have choices in how they deal with their feelings.
- Teach your kids to take positive action
Thinking realistically and feeling good are only half the battle. Kids also need to take positive action. Unfortunately, many parents are quick to rescue kids from their struggles. Or they micromanage their daily activities. And consequently, kids don’t learn to make healthy choices on their own.
Proactively teach your kids problem-solving skills. Show them they have the power to make a difference in their lives and in other people’s lives.
Flex your mental muscles, it’s worth it.
Stonehaven Young Peoples Health and Wellbeing Event
4.30 – 7pm Tuesday, 5th September 2017, Mackie Academy
This free community event is to promote and inform adults about key aspects of our young people’s health and wellbeing. With partners across education and health sessions are being offered on:
- Social Media
- Drugs and Alcohol
- Fast and easy cooking for the family
- Young People and Sleep
- Mindfulness
Conversation Cafe – If you can only spare a short time come in and visit our information stalls, chat with the teams and friends over a cup of tea and healthy nibbles.
You can book onto these sessions by phoning 01569 762071 or online at:
http://bit.ly/HWBStonehaven from Monday, 21st August to Sunday, 3rd September 2017
Two Great Opportunities for Young People
See below for information on a brand new young people’s funding stream connected to the 2018 Year of Young People.
Developed by EventScotland and Young Scot, the Create18 funding programme is open to groups of three or more young people, aged 8-26, from all across Scotland to stage their own events. Create18 will distribute £42,000 of funding through grants of up to £1,000 for each event.
Event ideas could include film festivals to gigs, theatre and dance performances to art exhibitions, sports competitions, fashion shows and nature trails. The fund will be administered by Young Scot and decisions will be made by a panel of young people with support from Young Scot and EventScotland.
The Year of Young People 2018 is the next in the series of Scotland’s Themed Years. It aims to inspire Scotland through its young people, celebrating their achievements, valuing their contributions to communities and creating new opportunities for young people to strive for success. For more information including a full press release – click here
To apply for Create18 funding, visit young.scot/YOYP2018
Getting it Right for Every Child
The Health & Social Care Alliance, Scotland is providing a free ‘Getting to Know GIRFEC’ workshop on 13th December, 1.30pm – 3.30pm, Café Coast, Beach Boulevard, Aberdeen, AB24 4HP
These Training the Trainer workshops are aimed at third sector organisations working directly with children, young people and parents. Participants will be equipped to cascade information to children, young people, parents and colleagues. For more information, or to book a place, please contact Sarah Wardrop on 0141 404 0231, or email comms.coordinator@alliance-scotland.org.uk
Scottish Mental Health First Aid: Young People
Aberdeen Health Village, Frederick Street,
Aberdeen AB24 5HY
Tuesday 27th Sept 2016 or Monday 28th Nov 2016
The course was developed as a mental health equivalent of physical first aid for those working, supporting or parenting 11 – 17 year olds. SMHFA/YP is an evidence learning course for adults to provide initial support; in a crisis and non-crisis situation.
We are running 2 courses in Aberdeen to meet the demand.
This course does not train you to become a counsellor or mental health professional. It is designed to teach you to better understand mental health and how it affects young people, as well as learn mental first aid skills such as:-
- How to recognise the signs of mental health problems or distress
- How to ask about mental distress
- How to provide initial support
- How to guide a young person towards appropriate professional help
The course also aims to show how mental health first aid can be applied in a crisis situation involving a range of common mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, eating disorders, self-harm, suicide and substance misuse.
This 14-hour training course is designed to increase understanding of mental health and how it affects young people. The course requires several hours of personal CPD both before and after the training day in order to complete the course requirements. The personal learning part of the course is done through the e-learning zone on the SMHFA –YP website.
The Cost is £75 per participant for the 14 hours CPD (including 1 day training). To book a place on either course please email training@thespark.org.uk or contact Emma Cameron on 07760257038 or at e.cameron@thespark.org.uk stating which course date you are interested in. 
As & When Project Worker 1 Aberdeenshire
Area(s): Scotland
Based: Barnardo’s Works, Aberdeenshire
Salary: £9.23 per hour
Closing date: 16/09/2016
Barnardo’s Works Aberdeenshire supports young people age 16 -24 years to access employment and training opportunities that meet their interests and career aspirations.
These sessional roles will support young people in rural areas of Aberdeenshire as part of our team. Our service is trying to build a network of sessional staff to deliver 1-1 work or small group work in small clusters across Aberdeenshire.
You will support young people into training, education or employment opportunities that meet their own aspirations and experiences.
The successful applicant will work with young people who are furthest removed from the labour market both in group and 1:1 settings and support them to achieve their goals.
There will be a requirement to engage with other professionals, agencies and stakeholders and to promote our services and young people to a variety of employers throughout the area.
For further information on the essential criteria for this role and to apply please visit the Barnardo’s Website www.barnardos.org.uk. When applying please quote reference SC14109816
Barnardo’s Scotland is pleased to be working towards the LGBT Youth Scotland Foundation Award.
For more information on this role please contact Cliff Graham: 07920 087 B951
Scottish Mental Health First Aid: Young People
Scottish Mental Health First Aid: Young People
Tesco Community Room – Inverurie
Tuesday 24th May 2016
The Spark now has a trainer able to deliver the above course in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. If you require an in-house course or would like to take part in an open course please get in touch with Emma Cameron at The Spark on e.cameron@thespark.org.uk or 07760257038 for more information. We have an open course on Tuesday 24th May 2016 in Inverurie.
For those working/support or volunteering with 11 – 17 year olds, this is an evidence learning course for adults to provide initial support; in a crisis and non-crisis situation.
This course does not train you to become a counsellor or mental health professional. It is designed to teach you to better understand mental health and how it affects young people, as well as learn mental first aid skills such as:-
- How to recognise the signs of mental health problems or distress
- How to ask about mental distress
- How to provide initial support
- How to guide a young person towards appropriate professional help
The course also aims to show how mental health first aid can be applied in a crisis situation involving a range of common mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, eating disorders, self-harm, suicide and substance misuse.
This 14-hour training course is designed to increase understanding of
mental health and how it affects young people. The course requires several hours of personal CPD both before and after the training day in order to complete the course requirements. The personal learning part of the course is done through the e-learning zone on the SMHFA –YP website.
The Cost is £75 per participant for the 14 hours CPD (including 1 day training).
Our Song: Mental Health In Young People
Check out this fantastic film from young people in the Mearns area.
Awards for Volunteering
Continuing to focus on Volunteers, find out more about an inspirational programme for young volunteers…
This award is available for young people from Primary School up to the age of 15 years. Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action’s role is to support schools in the local development of the award, and they will provide administrative support to facilitate the recording of pupil’s achievements and issuing certificates. 
The Saltire Award is a national programme for young people between 12 and 25 years old designed to recognise achievements in volunteering and has been administered by Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action since early 2012.
There are 4 sections to the awards, Challenge, Approach, Ascent and Summit
The Award is designed to give young people an experience of volunteering as part of a team and is the ideal introduction to volunteering for young volunteers and is about discovering more about themselves, others and the community. It is designed to encourage a regular commitment to volunteering but in realistic, bit sized chunks. Read the rest of this entry »
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