OitC and Action for Children launch new mental health programme

Ospreys in the Community is teaming up with national children's charity Action for Children to launch a new youth mental health programme in local schools across the region.

The “Bouncing Back” programme will work to support and improve the mental health and wellbeing of young people in secondary schools.

Funded through the huge success of last year’s Byte Night in partnership with Ospreys kit sponsor and Premium Partner, Philtronics Ltd, two staff members from Action for Children will work closely with the team to ensure the successful delivery of the programme.

The schools initially signed up for the programme in the region are Cefn Saeson, St Joseph’s, Dwr Y Felin, CCYD and Ysgol Ystalyfera Bro Dur which will be run in Welsh.

Through a number of engaging workshops, the new project will provide basic support and knowledge to a wide range of young people, in particular focusing on three key areas: understanding and empathy about mental health, coping strategies and self-care, and the importance of talking and dealing with mental health concerns.  

At the end of each Bouncing Back programme, each participant will receive a Mental Health First Aid Kit, providing them with resources that support them to manage their mood and sustain improvements in their emotional wellbeing. Feedback questionnaires following the delivery of each programme will also help us to identify those young people who may be at risk of requiring a higher-tier intervention.

Tom Sloane, Community Foundation Manager said: “We are looking forward to kickstarting this new programme alongside Action for Children to make a difference in local secondary schools throughout the region. The need for a project like this is clear, and more prevalent than ever during these difficult times.

“We have been hugely committed to the promotion of mental health across all of our programmes at OitC and invested in continuing to increase our resources and provision. Targeting the age group of those in secondary schools is key and this new programme will be vitally important in equipping young people with the knowledge they need to understand their own mental health as well as the confidence to discuss it openly and seek support when needed.

“We’d like to thank Philtronics for all their contribution to the programme and bringing Byte Night to Ospreylia. The successful first sleep out raised £22,000 and had support from local clubs, the WRU, Public Health Wales, NPT CVS and of course our corporate partners were out in force.  2021s Sleep out will help to continue this work in the coming years.”

Simon Pritchard Owner of Philtronics Group said “I am thrilled to see two outstanding charities (OitC and AFC) collaborate and build on the foundation of last year’s hugely successful Byte Night. Having exceeded our target on the inaugural “Ospreylia” event, it was clear to see the appetite from the community of the region to support such a worthy cause. 

“Seeing the funds used in areas of mental health for children in the region is particularly pleasing in these trying times.  I’d like to thank everyone who supported last year’s event and throw down the challenge to the business community of the region to join our board and help shape the 2021 event.”

Speaking about the exciting new programme Caryl Dyer, South Wales Service Co-ordinator at Action for Children said: “Action for Children are extremely excited to be teaming up with the Ospreys to deliver the Bouncing Back mental health programme in the region. Young people’s mental wellbeing is crucial to their ability to thrive and learn and no more so in these challenging times when our young people have had to deal with lots of  change and missed out on so much. This programme will help enable young people to understand mental health, develop some coping strategies and know where and when to look for help.

For more information on this new launch, contact Caryl Dyer, South Wales Service Co-ordinator at Action for Children on [email protected]