YMax is an important part of YMM’s mission is to support young people’s initiatives to make mental well-being a feature of their educational experience. One way the charity aims to do this is by recruiting and training older students, typically in Years 12 & 13, to play an active role in the mental wellbeing of their schools.
Following a talk to Year 12 students at Stratford upon Avon School in March about student mental health, 12 young people volunteered to be the pilot cohort of what, at the time, was called the YMM Young Ambassadors Scheme. This was a diverse group with experience of overcoming a variety of mental health challenges ranging from neurodiversity and bereavement to social anxiety and family breakdown.
An initial meeting allowed the group to bond, discuss mental health, say what they thought the issues were and talk about their hopes for the scheme. These broadly fell into three categories:
- Raise mental health awareness at the school by giving talks and leading initiatives
- Support younger students by acting as older ‘buddies’
- Lead or participate in promotional and fund-raising activities that raise YMM’s profile and allow it to provide adult mentors within local schools free of charge
YMM committed to facilitating this group and provide participants with skills and experiences that would enrich their CVs, increasing their chances of getting jobs or university places in due course.
The branding exercise was led by an A level Photography student supported by Coventry-based design studio Parallel Creative through the West Midlands ‘Make Good Grow’ initiative. They provided a design brief and invited selected students to work with professionals in their studio. The result was the logo at the top of the page; the Y standing for Youth combined with a stylised tree motif that represents growth.
This will be used on badges and promotional products given to members of the scheme and sold to others as a way of generating funds.
All members of the group expressed a willingness to be paired with children from lower years who are identified by YMM mentors or school pastoral staff as people who might benefit from having a more mature student to talk to.
YMax buddy values are:
- Approachability – Respond to younger students whenever they say hello and be ready to check in with them where time and the situation allows. A smile and eye contact may often be all that is needed to reassure the younger student that there is someone in their corner.
- Consistency – You must treat the younger child the same whether you are with your friends or alone, whatever your mood. This does not mean you always have to give them time when they ask for it (you are responsible for managing your own timetable and workload) but we need you to take your responsibility seriously – you cannot be dismissive or flippant in any interaction.
- Confidentiality – Trust is critical in a buddy relationship, so neither buddy or student should share what they are told without the express permission of the other. Younger students who do this will forfeit access to their buddy. YMax buddies who divulge confidential information (except in a safeguarding context) will also be removed from the scheme.
- Boundaries – Buddies should only communicate through school official channels and communication outside school should only be with the knowledge of primary carers.
The scheme is very new, but one buddy pairing has already been identified and two older students have received preliminary briefings so that they can be deployed as soon as the need arises.
We anticipate that the current YMax pilot group will continue in the buddy role until the end of 2024 and be part of the process by which we recruit the next cohort.
Earlier in the term the YMax group was invited to meet Lisa Webb from Persimmon Homes, a major YMM donor, and Nadhim Zahawi, Stratford’s local MP. This visit was postponed as a result of the general election and then modified to become part of a larger school event – a panel discussion which involved candidates from the four main parties on the ballot sheet as well as two local councillors.
YMax students hosted a lunch for all participants before the debate, giving them an opportunity to explain young people’s mental health concerns and the role they hope to play in tackling them.
What’s next?
Although still new, the enthusiasm shown by young people at Stratford School is very encouraging and YMM’s aim is to roll the YMax model out to other secondary schools where our mentors already work, encouraging sixth formers to take similar initiatives.
Part of this expansion will be supported by establishing an online presence using the YMax brand. We own the ymax.org.uk domain name and plan to develop a website and app to spread our message, recruit new members and provide a portal through which other schools can get involved.
Synergies
We are keen to work with any organisation or individual who shares our values and is concerned about the mental health and well-being of young people.
YMax has already established links with the US based ‘Let Grow’ initiative that promotes ideas for nurturing positive independence and social integration among young people.
We see an opportunity to align with the Young Enterprise Scheme already run by many schools and are keen to forge links with those involved.
How to get involved
Whilst the energy for the scheme has to come from the students, they still need support from an adult to act as a facilitator and mentor to the group. Recruiting and training these people may be a challenge with many teachers already stretched to fulfil their duties and those with the right skill sets in business already in high demand. However, there is an urgent need to address declining youth mental health. Our well-being as a nation depends on it.
We would be delighted to hear from you if you, or an organisation you represent, would like to know more about or get involved in YMax, get in touch with us by completing our contact form.