Funding for local service improving mental health for young people

Background

The Benhar Youth and Activities Club provides a range of activities for children and young people in Harthill, Eastfield and Greenrigg.  Activities include baking, film nights, obstacle races and other sports and also arts and crafts sessions.  Every year, the Club also take the children and young people on a trip.

The Benhar Youth and Activities Club is a lifeline for children and young people, providing them with a safe and welcoming environment to learn, grow, and flourish.

Funding was provided by the Harthill, Eastfield & Greenrigg (HEG) Community Fund. The fund is a vehicle through which two different funds are administered, which are provided by:

• Gresham House, the owners of Torrance Wind Farm.

• Netro Energy, the owners of Harthill Wind Ltd (Torrance Extension Wind Farm).

The fund provides grants to support charitable activities that improve people’s quality of life, increase opportunities for people to participate in community activity and promote community spirit. The fund is administered by Foundation Scotland.

Read more about the fund here

More about the project

This funding covered the period April 2019 to June 2022.

The Benhar Youth and Activities Club is the only youth work club in the local area and provides a vital service to the community. This funding allowed the club to continue to offer services for another two years, ensuring that the community did not lose this resource. The grant was used towards the costs of the hall hire, salaries, fees, and insurance.

Impact

At the start of the club's re-opening after COVID, the club concentrated on the children’s well-being rather than the programmes set. At that time, intake was not as high as usual for the club, as parents and children were still apprehensive, post-pandemic. Club volunteers continued to welcome children back and concentrate on what their needs were and what the children wanted to do, including sports and team games, to grow their confidence back after isolation.

As an effect of COVID, the 2021 intake of children was generally shy, and many lacked the confidence of those who had been involved with the group previously. 

For example, initially, Jane* only came for an hour a week and was quite anxious, always wanting to be with her mother, which was an effect of the pandemic.  At the start, Jane would make her mum stay with her, so the group encouraged Jane to help the youth leaders instead of joining in with some of the other activities, as they felt she needed an adult to be with her.  Throughout the weeks, as she saw what the other children were doing, she slowly gained the confidence to take part.  Youth leaders also encouraged the older children to help and mentor her and to ensure she felt safe.

Jane went from crying when her mum left to being able to say goodbye to her mum and confidently take part in and enjoy the activities offered. 

*names have been changed

The impact of the club's work is profound, as evidenced by the remarkable transformation of children like Jane, who went from being shy and withdrawn to confident and engaged. The success of the club's approach, which involves encouraging older children to help and mentor younger ones and supporting the children to have their say in what they would like to do, highlights the importance of community-based initiatives in supporting and nurturing the next generation.