In the heart of Wigan, Wigan Youth Zone is dedicated to combatting the ever-rising Mental Health Issues among young people.
The pandemic has had a huge impact on all of our lives, however, for the young people throughout the Wigan and Leigh Borough the lockdown has been devastating.
Across the country, more young people than ever are struggling with mental illness. According to Young Minds, one in six children aged five to 16 were identified as having a probable mental health problem in July 2020, a huge increase from one in nine in 2017.
Improving the Health and Wellbeing of young people has always been a priority for Wigan Youth Zone. Their dedicated Youth Workers are committed to supporting the emotional health and wellbeing of their members.
Giving young people a physical space in their community outside of school is crucial to developing relationships and resilience. Research has shown that just by regular attendance at Wigan Youth Zone, 80% of their members feel happier with their lives and 75% identified a reduction in isolation as a result of having a membership. On top of Wigan Youth Zone’s state of the art facilities from a climbing wall and recording studio to a skate park, the Youth Zone offer a number of initiatives to improve mental illness.
In 2021 Wigan Youth Zone received funding from Onside Youth Zones and The Oglesby Charitable Trust to better understand and evidence the role that Youth Zones can play in effecting health outcomes, supporting organisational learning and continual improvement, aiming to work with over 1000 young people within the borough. Since receiving the funding, a number of initiatives have been implemented, such as Mental Health First Aider’s training for their Youth Workers and running a range of projects specific to improving mental and nutritional health.
Hannah Jenkins, the Culture of Health Coordinator at Wigan Youth Zone, who has seen a huge increase in mental illness in young people post-pandemic, says:
“We have all been living through a very challenging time and coronavirus has undoubtedly affected all of our stress and anxiety levels to some degree. The worries and pressures created by the pandemic have been especially challenging for children and young people. The Youth Zone has a number of initiatives that help the young people of Wigan and Leigh to look after their mental health whilst providing a safe space to get support and advice from people they trust. Lots of great work is being undertaken across the Youth Zone, helping some of our most vulnerable. We are dedicated to combating social isolation and finding ways for young people to connect or interact.”
“Learning about health and wellbeing ensures that our young people develop the knowledge, understanding, and skills which they need for mental, nutritional, emotional, social and physical wellbeing now and in the future.”
It is estimated that fifteen percent, or 1.5 million, children in England have developed new or worsening mental health issues due to the recent pandemic and lockdown measures.
This was very much the case for 17-year-old Samantha who said that her anxiety had also been worsened by the pandemic to an extreme where she felt too uncomfortable to leave the house. Gradually, as Samantha engaged in the 1-2-1 Wellbeing sessions provided by Wigan Youth Zone, her confidence has grown and is now able to join in activities and has made new friends.
Samantha said:
“Over the last few months, the Well-being sessions and Youth Zone have helped me so much. I honestly don’t know where I’d be if I didn’t have the support that they have given me over the last few weeks and months. They have helped me realise I should definitely 
start believing in myself more and doing things out of my comfort zone. I have always been such a negative person and it has been a really hard habit to get myself out of.
Before having this support, I felt lonely and I felt I had nobody I could really turn to but having these Well-being sessions and going to the Youth Zone more, it has definitely helped my anxiety and emotions. I do see I have progressed with my anxiety, for example, I would have never have walked into the youth zone on my own without the support but now that I’ve faced one fear it’s time to face others. I definitely feel like I’m being supported now more than I ever been.”
Charlotte Farnworth, a one-to-one wellbeing Youth Worker who has been in the role since Wigan Youth Zone received the funding, says:
“I feel this one-to-one support is integral in a 21st-century youth provision, it means we can provide a full range of support and guidance to young people who come through our doors, investing in their emotional wellbeing as well as their physical and mental health.”
In celebration of Children’s Mental Health Week 2022, Wigan Youth Zone is encouraging young people within the borough to tackle their mental health by taking advantage of the numerous Health and Wellbeing activities on offer. Activities include “Bro-gression”, a male empowerment session that breaks down male stigmas, and a fitness session in partnership with the Banish App to use fitness as a tool to tackle mental illness.
The Youth Zone also runs a Mentoring service, funded by BBC Children in Need. These sessions provide young people with support from older members of the community and are positive role models. These members of the community have received training from Wigan Youth Zone to become a mentor and can provide long term support with a young person’s emotional and mental health and support with life skills, hobbies etc.
Wigan Youth Zone has a range of support so if you are a parent or young person struggling with poor mental health, you can check the website for more information on their Health and Well-Being provision. https://www.wiganyouthzone.org/about-us/health-and-wellbeing/.
It is hoped that with the continuation of such initiatives like the ones above, Wigan Youth Zone will continue to give back to the wider Wigan and Leigh communities. Wigan Youth Zone relies on donations and support from business investments along with kind donations from the local community. Every donation goes towards helping the young people of Wigan and Leigh to discover a world of possibilities and create the future they deserve.
