Bangor school pupils have been taking part in a ‘Dragons Den’ style project run by Bangor University, to tackle mental health challenges facing the NHS.
Year 12 pupils from secondary schools in Gwynedd and Anglesey, including Ysgol Friars, Ysgol Tryfan and Coleg Menai 6 Form (Bangor site), are taking part in the Profi Project, which is being run in partnership with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, NHS charity Awyr Las, and leading local employers.
The project, now in its sixth year, aims to develop transferable employability skills and confidence in young people between the ages of 16-19, in order to prepare them for further education and the world of work.
Over a fifteen week period, sixth form pupils will be supported by Bangor University student volunteers, staff from BCUHB, and local employers to develop solutions to problems that the health board and Awyr Las are attempting to tackle through their ‘I CAN’ mental health campaign.
The project will culminate with a Dragons Den style finale which will see schools go head to head as they pitch their ideas to a panel of judges. The winning team will be awarded a cash prize of £500 so the Awyr Las charity can implement their idea.
The I CAN campaign, launched earlier this year, aims to raise awareness of mental health issues, tackle stigma, and encourage open conversations in communities across North Wales.
Pupils are being encouraged to find solutions to help tackle a range of mental health related issues in their local communities. These include how to encourage children and young people to talk openly about mental health; how to improve the experience of people with mental health problems who use public transport; and how to widen access to music as a tool for psychological wellbeing.
The project is being coordinated by Kim Jones from Bangor University’s Centre for Widening Access. The centre aims to forge links between the University and its surrounding community in order to raise people’s aspirations and create learning opportunities for individuals of all ages.
She said: “Profi is all about helping young people develop their full potential, it’s here to inspire and encourage future thinking and to support them on finding the right path whilst supporting the development of their confidence and employability skills.
“By working to find a solution to a real life problem faced by a local charity and developing a project plan, presentation and crowdfunding film, pupils will develop the transferable employability skills to cope with the challenges ahead of them in further education or in the world of work.”
Lesley Singleton, Director of Partnerships at BCUHB said the health board’s participation in the project formed part of its ongoing commitment to working in partnership with others in order to deliver on its ambitious four year plan to improve mental health and wellbeing across the region.
She said: “We’re delighted to enlist the help of local students as we work towards our aim of encouraging open conversations about mental health in communities across North Wales.
“We recognise the importance of partnership working in order to create communities, workplaces and schools which are empowered to support people to look after their mental health.
“Our staff are thrilled to be working alongside such enthusiastic students and we are looking forward to supporting them to develop creative solutions to help people stay well in the community.”
For further information on the I CAN campaign please visit www.awyrlas.org.uk/ican
