Let's Squash it Together

Young people!

You must take your seat at the table because it is your time to influence change.

This is a paid opportunity to develop skills, to have the power, and opportunity to make change.

What Change?

The culture and the narrative around youth violence.

Just as a doctor cannot give treatment without consent, you cannot continue to be spoken about without being in the conversation.

It is your future, your livelihoods, your freedom, your security, your environment, you do not and you cannot afford to take ‘no’ for an answer!

What?

Let’s Squash it Together is a Young People-Led Program Empowering them to lead and champion socio-emotional wellbeing within their communities whilst tackling serious youth violence. It gives them the tools and power to build a more compassionate, more resilient and more united Youth Culture.

How?

The programme has two focuses: Improving young people's social emotional wellbeing and design and facilitation training

Through workshops, activities and games we equip young people to prepare for conflicts before they emerge, deescalate emotions in the midst of heated situations, and work together to process conflicts and solve problems as a team. These workshop focus on developing essential socio-emotional skills, such as emotional regulation, communication, empathy, and resilience.

The design and facilitation aspect of the programme gives older young people (17-25) an accreditation in facilitation/Youth work/Consultants’ to then co- deliver sessions to other young people through youth justice, Youth clubs, Schools, Pupil Referral Units and other Alternative Provisions. 

They will

Develop their youth work skills as local community leaders and peer mentors.   Learners will look at the benefits of community-focussed activities as well as planning and considering all of the practical elements involved in this.

Why?

1. To promote the emotional well-being and positive mental health of children and young people through 1:1 work and the implementation of evidenced based group interventions.
2. Building young people's knowledge, skills, and confidence can create a ripple effect, empowering others and creating sustainable change.
3. Young people have unique insights and experiences that can positively influence their peers' socio-emotional wellbeing and in the turn their community. Placing them as change makers will reshape and create a more compassionate, more united and resilient youth culture.

Young people accessing this programme may have undiagnosed needs and associated levels of high risk, high harm behaviours and vulnerability and often find themselves in the justice system, secure, inpatient mental health and Looked after Children pathways.

This accredited learning opportunity promote inclusivity, diversity, and a supportive space to grow.

Impact

1.    Long-term Wellbeing: Through the implementation of evidenced based group interventions, children and young people experience sustained socio-emotional growth, positive mental health, leading to improved overall quality of life, relationships and future success.

2.    Peer Mentoring Culture: The program fosters a supportive culture of peer mentoring, where participants become mentors themselves, extending the positive impact to future generations.

3.    An inclusive economy: By training young people and employing them, it enables them to participate meaningfully in society and the economy.

4.    Broader Community Impact: The program contributes to creating a more empathetic and mentally healthy community, where individuals value and prioritise socio-emotional wellbeing.