We Will
Led and developed by a group of young people from West Cumbria the WE WILL youth mental health campaign burst on to the scene in 2017. Noticing a gap in provision and the long waiting lists for youth mental health issues, the group wanted to do something to make a change. After extensive research they worked alongside community leaders and businesses, took their concerns to Westminster, lobbied health commissioners for better access to youth mental health services, undertook youth mental health training (and inspired over 300 others in the community to do it too), helped set up mental health initiatives in schools, made several award-winning films and campaigned tirelessly to change the way people think about youth mental health.
They have won several awards for their work including the Golden Apples 2018 Education Awards (Best Community Initiative); Best Youth Community Project at West Cumbria Community Heroes Awards 2018; the Diana Award for Voluntary Service and the Inspirational Story at the Mental Health & Well-being Awards 2020. In 2019 they were invited to meet the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to talk to them about their campaign.
They received global media success with coverage in local, regional, national and international newspapers, both online and in print, including a one page article in The Guardian. One of WE WILL’s founding members worked with Newsround to present an extended CBBC documentary (see film links) broadcast on Time to Talk Day and the group were featured in the programme.
All campaign activity had a common goal. For young people and their mental health to be taken seriously and for young people to be a part of the solution, not the problem. Their research found that listening better was the single most effective thing that people could do to help. See film links to BOY showing why listening is so important and JUST LISTEN showing how to listen.
The group created recommendations for different sectors, suggesting ways to listen better and improve youth mental health.
WE WILL Recommendations
WE WILL Recommendations for improving youth mental health in the workplace and the community 2023
WE WILL Recommendations
WE WILL Recommendations for improving youth mental health in schools 2023
Boy
Created by young people from WE WILL, BOY shows WHY it’s important to listen better to others
Just Listen
Created by young people from WE WILL, JUST LISTEN is an animation showing HOW to listen better to others.
WE WILL - WILL YOU?
This short film includes interviews with WE WILL members explaining what matters to them, what they DID about it and how YOU can help improve youth mental health.
Inside My Head
Inside My Head is a CBBC programme about young people and anxiety presented by WE WILL member Molly featuring Joe Wicks, young people from across the UK and WE WILL.
In the Absence of Authority
In the Absence of Authority includes interviews with WE WILL members encouraging young people to get involved in issues that matter to them and explaining how to get started. Made by Burnt Lemon Theatre Co.
Members of WE WILL have represented their campaign and their community at Westminster on several occasions including appearing on an expert panel regarding Levelling Up and addressing health inequalities in Left Behind Neighbourhoods.
Members of WE WILL are now either working or studying across the country, promoting youth mental health in their place of work or educational setting. Four members of WE WILL are now on the board of trustees at The Centre.
