Kilkenny youth group receives grant from Vhi Health and Wellbeing Fund

A Kilkenny youth group has received a grant from the Vhi Health and Wellbeing Fund.

The fund supports projects that aim to strengthen resilience in young people and help them manage anxiety. Non-profit organisations who work with young people were invited to apply for a share of the €100,000 fund.

In Kilkenny, Aiséirí received a grant. Aiséirí provides residential and community based addiction treatment to young people aged 15 - 21 years. With Vhi funding they will be offering a new programme called Connection.

The programme will focus on recovery through the activities of sailing and equine therapy. The young people engaged in the initiative will take part in weekly sessions over a 12 week period with the overarching aim being to increase engagement and provide education and learning around managing anxiety and building resilience.

In addition to the funding, Vhi introduced a new element this year through the creation and delivery of a bespoke Trauma Informed Care and Wellness programme. The programme was made available to all of the successful youth groups.

The Trauma Informed Care & Wellness programme included a series of trauma-based training sessions for youth leaders led by Vhi Clinical Psychologists and Health Coaches. This training was designed to instil a trauma-informed care approach among youth workers dealing with children and young people who have undergone traumatic experiences and to empower youth workers with the necessary skills and mindset needed to support young people managing trauma. In addition, Vhi Health Coaches provided youth leaders with tips and strategies to support their own mental health and wellbeing.

Therese Bourke, Head of Customer Service, Vhi, said: “We are delighted that this year another thirteen innovative projects are benefitting from our Health & Wellbeing Fund, instilling a health and wellbeing mindset into the young people they work with. In addition, we were really pleased to introduce a bespoke Trauma Informed Care & Wellness programme for youth workers. The aim of this programme is to equip the youth workers with the necessary skills in mental health and wellbeing to support both the young people they work with and their own personal wellbeing and resilience. Clinical Psychologists and Health Coaches from Vhi delivered a series of guided sessions to youth leaders designed to improve skills in physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing to pass on to young people in their projects and to their peers. The uptake and reaction to the programme has been very positive and demonstrates how important access to this type of training is. We had 28 youth leaders participate in the programme this year and I hope that’s a number we can grow in the future.”

Lucy Masterson, CEO, Irish Youth Foundation, said: “We were delighted to partner with Vhi again this year on the delivery of the Vhi Health and Wellbeing Fund. Now in its third year the funding provided by Vhi remains critical to supporting the health and wellbeing of the next generation. This year we were particularly excited by the addition of the skills-based training. While funding is essential when it comes alongside focused training the benefits are immeasurable. I know that the participants have gained so much from these sessions and will continue to introduce these tactics into their daily interactions with the young people they’re working with.”

For more information about the Vhi Health & Wellbeing Fund visit https://iyf.ie/grants/.