About
Why the work is being done
Young people are no longer getting the support they need due to the YMCA Changing Futures mental health programme being severely affected by COVID-19. At the same time, evidence from multiple sources is showing that the pandemic is exacerbating young people’s mental health issues. Effectively, YMCA's capacity has dropped whilst demand has increased.
Local YMCA’s have done their best to try and provide some form of support such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy sessions and counselling via Zoom. However, many simply don’t have the capacity or digital expertise to be able to substitute face to face services with a digital offer. The result is a ‘postcode lottery’ of inconsistent services, or worse, no service at all.
This programme is part of the Catalyst and The National Lottery Community Fund COVID-19 Digital Response funding initiative; a partnership between The National Lottery Community Fund and CAST, supported by the Catalyst network.
This programme is part of the Catalyst and The National Lottery Community Fund COVID-19 Digital Response funding initiative; a partnership between The National Lottery Community Fund and CAST, supported by the Catalyst network.
Problem to solve
Through this project YMCA England & Wales want to develop a digital service that their network can use to support local young people with their mental health and wellbeing. This will to help them coordinate the development of a consistent and reliable online service that can be used by other YMCA branches that are delivering the Changing Futures programme. Not only will this fill the void left by the reduction in face to face services, it will also increase YMCA's overall capacity to impact positively on young people’s mental health at a time when COVID-19 is accelerating need.
Who are the users and what do they need to do
There are 3 main user groups:
- YMCA England & Wales
"As National Council we need to be able to provide a co-ordinated, consistent and reliable digital offer to the network so that they in turn are better able to provide mental health services at scale whilst removing the geographic barriers that exist in service provision. We need to do this to avoid duplication of resources and products across the network."
- YMCA England & Wales
"As National Council we need to be able to provide a co-ordinated, consistent and reliable digital offer to the network so that they in turn are better able to provide mental health services at scale whilst removing the geographic barriers that exist in service provision. We need to do this to avoid duplication of resources and products across the network."
- Local YMCAs
"As a local YMCA we need to be able to fill the gap left by our reduced ability (as a result of COVID-19) to deliver face to face services in schools. We need to be able to confidently direct young people to a central resource where they can access relevant and safe information, advice and guidance and digital interventions that operate at a preventative and early intervention level."
"As a local YMCA we need to be able to fill the gap left by our reduced ability (as a result of COVID-19) to deliver face to face services in schools. We need to be able to confidently direct young people to a central resource where they can access relevant and safe information, advice and guidance and digital interventions that operate at a preventative and early intervention level."
- Young People
"As a young person I need to be able to access more refined and relevant information, advice, guidance and digital interventions that are tailored to the main issues that affect me without having to navigate numerous websites that may or may not host safe information. I need to be confident enough in the product so that I am prepared to signpost my peers to it."
"As a young person I need to be able to access more refined and relevant information, advice, guidance and digital interventions that are tailored to the main issues that affect me without having to navigate numerous websites that may or may not host safe information. I need to be confident enough in the product so that I am prepared to signpost my peers to it."