Creeslough youth celebrate Vhi Health and Wellbeing Fund grant

Donegal Youth Service and Spraoi agus Spórt will both receive funding funding supports projects focused on strengthening resilience and managing anxiety in young people.

Vhi and the Irish Youth Foundation (IYF) have announced details of the 13 projects awarded grants through the Vhi Health and Wellbeing Fund.

Now in its third year, the Vhi Health and Wellbeing Fund, supports projects that aim to strengthen resilience in young people and help them manage anxiety. Non-profit organisations who work with young people in Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny and Limerick were invited to apply for a share of the €100,000 Fund.

The funding will be invested into their STAR project - a programme focused on supporting young people impacted by the Cresslough tragedy. The funding will enable a dedicated youth worker to create a programme of activities to engage and support these young people who were impacted by the tragedy and are now presenting with high levels of anxiety and distress.

Spraoi agus Spórt provides fun, affordable and inclusive activities, opportunities and experiences for children and young people in Inishowen. They plan to invest their funding into their "Hopeful Minds" project: an early intervention mental health promotion programme that aims to build and strengthen resilience in young people and help them recognise and manage anxiety.

In addition to the funding, Vhi introduced a new element this year through the creation and delivery of a bespoke Trauma Informed Care & Wellness programme. The programme was made available to all of the successful youth groups, with 28 youth leaders participating in the sessions.

The Trauma Informed Care & Wellness programme included a series of trauma-based training sessions for youth leaders led by Vhi Clinical Psychologists and Health Coaches. This training was designed to instil a trauma-informed care approach among youth workers dealing with children and young people who have undergone traumatic experiences and to empower youth workers with the necessary skills and mindset needed to support young people in managing trauma. In addition, Vhi Health Coaches provided youth leaders with tips and strategies to support their own mental health and well-being.

Bridget Gallagher, Contact Centre Manager, Vhi said: “We are delighted that this year another thirteen innovative projects are benefitting from our Health & Wellbeing Fund, instilling a health and wellbeing mindset into the young people they work with.

“Clinical Psychologists and Health Coaches from Vhi delivered a series of guided sessions to youth leaders designed to improve skills in physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing to pass on to young people in their projects and to their peers.

“The uptake and reaction to the programme has been very positive and demonstrates how important access to this type of training is. We had 28 youth leaders participate in the programme this year and I hope that’s a number we can grow in the future.”

Lucy Masterson, CEO of the Irish Youth Foundation, said: “We were delighted to partner with Vhi again this year on the delivery of the Vhi Health and Wellbeing Fund. Now in its third year, the funding provided by Vhi remains critical to supporting the health and wellbeing of the next generation.

“This year we were particularly excited by the addition of the skills-based training. While funding is essential when it comes alongside focused training the benefits are immeasurable. I know that the participants have gained so much from these sessions and will continue to introduce these tactics into their daily interactions with the young people they’re working with.”