Act for Change: Empowering Emerging Leaders
- Borough: London-wide
- Organisation: Act for Change
- Topics: children and young people, mental health
Who we are
Act for Change is a charity dedicated to the mental wellbeing of young people. We work to overcome trauma and strengthen mental health resilience. We promote an early intervention, systemic and trauma-informed approach and foster equitable access to services. We are committed to the principle of Deep Democracy, of including all voices.
You are not alone
During the covid-19 pandemic, the shift to online counselling presented unique challenges and opportunities for engaging with young people.
We introduced the 36 Figures Cards (abbreviated to ‘ef’ for emerging futures), which depict various aspects of the self and used them to facilitate meaningful conversations about mental health.
By externalising individual experiences and common feelings, these cards enabled young people to articulate their emotions, share their challenges, and foster open dialogues about their mental well-being.
Since 2022, we have been utilizing the Cards in various workshops with diverse groups. These cards are not only easy to use but also adaptable to any topic.
For instance, we conducted creative workshops focused on mental health with students from the London College of Performing Arts (LCPA).
Additionally, we engaged with women in a faith community in Southall to foster community development and promote personal growth.
More recently, we have been dedicated to supporting leadership and self-leadership among young people. A notable example of this is our Emerging Leaders workshop held in Bexley, in collaboration with Active Horizons and the Bexley Youth Council.
What we are learning and the impact
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Young people are eager to take charge and engage with topics that resonate with them, such as health, bullying, relationships, exam stress, and the influence of social media.
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The Cards provide essential tools and language that enable them to confront barriers that hinder their pursuits, including low self-confidence, self-criticism, anxiety, and difficulties in setting boundaries.
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By utilising the Cards, young people can initiate conversations with their peers about their struggles and mental health, creating a supportive environment for open dialogue.
- The Cards not only empower young individuals to take action and implement positive changes in their lives but also help them build stronger relationships. They foster creativity and systemic thinking by illustrating that many others share similar feelings and experiences. Ultimately, the Cards inspire courage in young people to engage with pressing global issues.
The changes we would like to see
Our approach aligns with London’s focus on early intervention and prevention in mental health. Our method addresses a big concern with a light touch and potentially helps avert escalation of needs while waiting for services to become available as it addresses impact of previous traumas.
Policymakers can:
- recognise the importance of creative, engaging methods in supporting youth’s mental health
- consider implementing similar programmes across London schools and youth organisations
- allocate resources to develop initiatives that support resilience and engagement of communities. This would ultimately relieve resources currently used to address the mental health crisis.
To continue with these workshops, we are looking for:
- funding that we would use to support young people and their mental wellbeing through our workshops and use of the Cards.
- youth organisations who are interested in the programme.
- people in communities who would learn to work with the Cards and start their own circles in their respective communities.
Get in touch
If you have any questions about Act for Change, you can get in touch at [email protected].
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