Children and young people’s programme is coming to Kent and Medway

The second regional pilot of our children and young people’s programme will launch in Kent and Medway and the South East in October 2013.                 

If you’re based in the region, we want to work with you. 

The programme, which aims to improve the attitudes of children and young people towards their peers with mental health problems, is currently being piloted in Birmingham and the West Midlands and includes a social marketing campaign, education, community engagement and partnership work with a range of organisations. 

The second pilot, which will begin in Kent and Medway as the West Midlands programme comes to an end, aims to further develop our learning about challenging stigma and discrimination among children and young people by working in a new region with a different set of demographics and characteristics. 

What will be happening?   

The programme the South East will include a similar mix of local and regional marketing, education and events that reach young people. Young people who have their own experiences of mental health problems will be at the forefront of designing and delivering this work. If you know someone who might like to help please email dave.wong@rethink.org

We also aim to fund community-based projects that change attitudes and behaviour among young people. Check out the grants section of our website for more information about the Time to Change grants fund and how to apply.

How can I and my organisation get involved? 

We’re looking for organisations in the South East, and particularly Kent and Medway, who work with children and young people especially those outside of the mental health world, to work in partnership with us. Ultimately we want you to help us encourage young people to “make a stand, and help spread the word” about ending mental health stigma and discrimination. 

We’ll be running information sessions about the grants fund and the wider children and young people’s programme in Kent and Medway from late March. To attend one of these sessions, please book your place.

Get trained to train

We can also provide ‘train the trainer’ sessions to train you and others in your organisation to deliver anti-stigma training sessions to young people; and a range of other materials including assembly presentations, our short film ‘Stand Up Kid’ and posters. Find out more and book your place.

If you’re in the West Midlands and would like to be involved in the pilot programme there between now and October, get in touch by emailing leroy.mcconnell@rethink.org.

Find out more about the children and young people’s programme as a whole.