We’re delighted to share the inspiring news of how a recent grant from the NHS Tayside Charitable Foundation is making a tangible difference in the lives of young people in Dundee. Feeling Strong, the city’s dedicated youth mental health charity, has received £15,000 to launch their vital “Own Path – Campaigns & Content” initiative. This project perfectly aligns with their core mission: to ensure every young person in Dundee facing mental health or wellbeing challenges receives the support they need to flourish.
Feeling Strong's "Own Path – Campaigns & Content" is a truly innovative and youth-led project. At its heart is the empowerment of young people to shape the very policies, programmes, and services designed to support them. Rooted in Feeling Strong's core value of leadership, this initiative places young voices front and centre. By actively involving young individuals with lived experience, the project aims to create resources, information, and peer-led support that genuinely reflect their needs and perspectives. Ultimately, "Own Path" seeks to establish Feeling Strong as a trusted and dynamic hub for mental health support, driven by the very people it serves.
Navigating the complexities of adolescence and young adulthood can bring a unique set of mental health challenges. It's crucial that support systems are not only available but also truly understand and reflect the lived experiences of young people. Feeling Strong recognised the need to amplify these voices, ensuring that policies and services are informed by those who know firsthand what it's like to face mental health or wellbeing challenges. Their aim is to move beyond traditional approaches and create a more responsive and relevant landscape of support for Dundee's youth.
The NHS Tayside Charitable Foundation has demonstrated its commitment to the wellbeing of young people in the region through a generous £15,000 grant. This vital funding has enabled Feeling Strong to launch and develop the "Own Path – Campaigns & Content" initiative. During a recent visit to Feeling Strong's premises, representatives from the Foundation shared their positive reflections. Trustees David Cheape and Linda Martindale expressed their admiration for the charity's impactful work, highlighting the safe and supportive community they have created. Shelley McCarthy, Charity Chief Officer at NHS Tayside Charitable Foundation, emphasised the importance of supporting organisations like Feeling Strong in achieving their vision of healthier, longer lives for the people of Tayside, particularly during Mental Health Week.
The "Own Path – Campaigns & Content" initiative is already making a significant impact by empowering young people to become confident mental health advocates and leaders within their communities. By placing lived experience at the forefront, Feeling Strong is developing more relevant and effective resources and support networks. This not only benefits the young people directly involved but also contributes to a wider culture of understanding and reduces stigma surrounding mental health across Dundee. The project is fostering a sense of ownership and agency among young people, equipping them with the skills and confidence to shape their own futures and support their peers.
