Health Hub

How was the need for your project first identified?

The Health Hub is a project funded by the PHA in response to the barriers young people face to accessing help and services, Carrickfergus & Larne were areas highlighted as one of a particular need.

What are your project’s aims or objectives?

We provide a hub where young people have the opportunity to socialise, learn and develop healthier lifestyles. We work alongside local post primary schools and community groups to deliver social and recreation spaces, information and education programmes for young people.

We also run a weekly youth programmes throughout afternoons and evenings at our Irish Quarter West building, ranging from drop in services, healthy activities and one to one support.

Using various methods young people learn that through building relationships with the staff and participating in the programs they can overcome their difficulties. We liaise with services, refer as and when appropriate and enable young people to thrive and move on.

How does your project try to capture or measure the outcomes for young people/the community?

The Health Hub uses Upshot to capture the outputs such as attendances but also uses the Impact Measurement Tool called the Wellness web to measure distance travelled by individual participants. Young people are invited to sit with staff and plot how they feel about various aspects of their life and review it later. Health Hub runs a very visual program through various media platforms and has seen their name and program established within the local community. This development has ensured a huge rise in knowledge about the program and in turn an increase in positive outcomes.

Do you have a particular story from the life of a participant?

YP1 got involved with the YMCA over 1 year ago and was referred to the Health Hub from a young men’s support group. YP1 had been away for over 7 years with his family and had travelled the world on a boat. This led to him being home schooled to which he did very well. He was extremely happy with this lifestyle and felt he was flourishing with his family whilst travelling.

On his return he started to find it very difficult to transition into normal life and going to mainstream school was very difficult . After a few years of settling in, he noticed that his self-esteem and confidence was deteriorating and that he was struggling to take part in social activities.

When he started working with the young men’s support group they worked with him to a point that they really felt he needed to go somewhere different and that meeting new people in a safe environment was vital for his mental health.

YP1 decided that he would come to our summer running club (for 1 hour only) due to never ever running in this type of environment, he was extremely nervous about coming to the Health Hub and needed to be brought to the front door due to extreme anxiety).

He quickly felt encouraged on how he was accepted in the group and from time managed to run his first ever mile. This was a huge milestone as he later discussed how he had serious body image concerns.

YP1 continued to get involved and the next time he ran 2 miles. After 2 months of being involved in the running club he made a huge decision and went into the sea with a large group of young people. Something he never dreamed off.

He then got involved in other Health Hub programs from Afterschool drop in, the Development group, Friday fitness and developed many new relationships. He then attended residentials, team events, community events and got involved with a local youth club.

He has now progressed to the point that he got his first youth club paid role and hopes to continue in this journey to encourage others.

Quotes

"The past is manure, the present is the seed and the future is a blooming flower." Dion participant

"The YMCA is a big, building-shaped hug." Dion participant

"I don't know what I would have done without YMCA, I really don't know where I would be today." Dion and Counselling participant

"I really love MNL. I love singing and playing my guitar here." MNL participant