Feeling Strong: the heart of Dundee
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- Published: 19th August 2024
Feeling Strong give an overview of their work and what it means to them to be nominated for the Self Management in the Community Award.
One of the nominees for this years Self Management in the Community Award is Feeling Strong. Feeling Strong is Dundee’s youth mental health charity and their work is designed, delivered, and for young people. Feeling Strong exists to make sure that every young person aged 12 – 26 living, working, or studying in Dundee, who has experienced a mental health or wellbeing challenge, is supported to reach their full potential. They deliver projects, services and campaigns in the community to tackle stigma, build confidence, develop resources, create networks and most importantly support the positive recovery journey of the young people they support. They do this through their three workstreams: Recovery & Support, Campaigns & Content, and Community & Learning.
What difference has your work made to your service users lives?
What started as an idea in 2018, has developed into a community-led, recognisable and credible source of support for thousands of young people in Dundee facing mental health and wellbeing challenges. We wanted to create a Dundee filled with connections and a strong safety net for young people who all too often slip through the cracks. By the very nature of our work, young people’s voices are heard across every part of the design, development and delivery of our projects. We believe this is a direct and relevant demonstration of our willingness to enable and empower young people to not only get involved in the change, but lead the change themselves, for the benefit of their community.
We have refined our services to truly create a community of shared interest and offer peer-led group activities that create a safe space, outside of clinical boundaries, for young people to discover mental health recovery tools and reduce isolation. One young person said: “After the pandemic, I have no idea how to socialise with people my age. I come to Feeling Strong because I want to meet people.”
What does it mean to you to be nominated for this award?
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