A new project has been launched in North Ayrshire which will seek to research and solve the growing problems our young people are facing mental health.

The North Ayrshire Mental Health Commission (NAMHC) is being led by Leaders Unlocked, a social enterprise which works across the UK to highlight and empower young people’s voices to be heard on major issues in Health, Criminal Justice, Education and Policing.

The project is being led by community activist and former MSYP Nairn McDonald, 26, who has spent a decade working in his local community.

Nairn said about the project:“The Commission is based on a successful model which has worked elsewhere that I have adapted for the North Ayrshire perspective. We will look to recruit 30 young people. They will be supported to travel North Ayrshire speaking to their peers to find out the main issues around Mental Health and also develop solutions to them.”

Leaders Unlocked has partnered with North Ayrshire Council’s Connected Communities department to deliver the project.

The project has been successful in gaining grant funding from “Young Start” with The National Lottery.

Nairn added:

“Unlike other projects we have seen around Mental Health, this one will be led by and driven by young people.We have support from North Ayrshire Council, and other relevant partners, to ensure that the solutions young people find are taken seriously and put into action”

With recruitment now open, NAMHC is encouraging any young person between the ages of 14 – 25 who may be interested to get in touch. A final group consisting of 30 young people from across North Ayrshire will be selected and will start their work in early 2022.

Those selected will be supported by a Local Facilitator in addition to the support provided by Nairn and the Senior Leadership Team at Leaders Unlocked and within the Council.

Nairn says he is keen to ensure that as diverse group as possible, which represents all the communities within North Ayrshire, is recruited saying “I want to make sure the group includes those young people who never have their voices heard or are rarely if ever consulted”

Those who join the project will be supported to travel in North Ayrshire, gain new skills, and experiences while completing this worthwhile and vital research.

The young people choosing to take part will - throughout the year long project - visit a variety of communities to meet fellow young people as well as meeting with leaders in the sectors that impact young people’s mental health.

At the end of the project a thank you will be given to each young person who takes part and the young people involved will get to decide the form this thank you takes.

Any young person or potential partner can email nairn@leaders-unlocked.org