We are committed to supporting young people and their families, with a particular interest in those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) especially Black African and Caribbean.
In line with our priorities, we are pleased to inform you that we have been funded by COVID -19 Recovery Lottery Community Fund to support young peoples’ mental wellbeing in London.
The Youth Wellbeing project is aimed at raising awareness and engaging young people with creative culturally sensitive, activities, workshop, wellbeing tips. In addition, to supporting them to access specialist mental health services if required.
We have committed to working with schools, colleges, and youth centers to engage young people from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities. Coronavirus pandemic has been disproportionately deadly for people from BAME backgrounds
The harmful impact of the pandemic on these communities either because of the lockdown, bereavement, isolation, loss of income, and fear are triggering mental health conditions or exacerbating existing ones.
Researched shows that young people are under increasing pressure and struggling to get the right support. A recent report titled ‘The Forgotten Generation: British youth perspective of COVID-19’ reveals that three quarters (73%) of 18 to 24-year-olds in the UK believe that the Coronavirus pandemic has had the biggest impact on them compared to any other social, political or economic event in their lifetime.
In addition to this, the findings from a survey carried out by YOUNG MINDS, with 2,011 young people with a history of mental health problems between Friday 15th September and Wednesday 30th September 2020, found the following:
- 69% of respondents described their mental health as poor now that they are back at school; this has risen from 58% who described their mental health as poor before returning to school.
- 40% of respondents said that there was no school counsellor available to support students in their school
- Only 27% had had a one-to-one conversation with a teacher or another member of staff in which they were asked about their wellbeing, by the time they completed the survey.
- Almost a quarter of respondents (23%) said that there was less mental health support in their school than before the pandemic, while only 9% agreed that there was more mental health support.
In this regard, we hereby request you to kindly support this initiative by making referral to us or by circulating the information to your school/college community.
Our activities will be delivered in a caring and safe environment in line with government guidelines around social engagements at a challenging time as this. The project activities will mainly be virtual via Zoom platforms and over the phone.
Also, it will interest you to know that our organisation is committed to the principles of confidentiality and we work with staff and volunteers that are DBS checked.
Should you have any queries, please send us an email at admin@sftfoundation.org