An innovative project for young people, partly funded by Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), was a finalist in the Youthlink Scotland, National Youth Awards. The awards held in June celebrated youth work and the youth workers who make a difference every year in the lives of young people.

YoMo (Young Movers) is a youth empowerment charity providing services across Glasgow. YoMo’s Walking and Talking Programme was one of three finalists in the category Health and Wellbeing.

Walk & Talk was created to help with the ongoing mental health crisis. Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic it was apparent that there was a large number of young people facing mental health and wellbeing issues with a lack of services to support them. These issues existed before lockdown but have been exacerbated during this time.

Walk & Talk is a one-on-one support service for young people aged between 12 and 25 in Glasgow. The service is delivered to young people who are experiencing a wide range of challenges including loneliness, isolation,or mental health issues. 

The structure of Walk & Talk embeds a youth work approach to young people’s mental wellbeing. Trained volunteers or staff members meet with a young person in a social, outdoor space such as a park, or similar, in the young person’s local area and have a chance to talk with them, over the course of a walk.

Barbara Adzajlic, Health Improvement Lead (Children and Young People’s Mental Health, Glasgow City HSCP) nominated the project for the award.

Barbara said: “The Walk & Talk programme is partly funded by our HSCP from Scottish Government mental health funding. Walk & Talk provides young people with a friendly, trusted adult who they can meet with on a weekly basis. The service allows young people to openly discuss anything they wish and encourages them to think about positive coping strategies and decision making. It’s been very successful in supporting very isolated and anxious young people to feel better and more confident.”

A YoMo staff member said: “We’re excited and appreciative to be a finalist in this award. All YoMo staff put a lot of hard work into the Walk & Talk programme and it’s amazing to have it recognised in the finals of these awards.”

As well as Walk & Talk being a space where young people can express how they’re feeling and coping, it’s a chance for volunteers and staff to offer support and guidance to encourage the young people to progress towards their aspirations and goals.

A recent evaluation report of YoMo’s Mental Health programme is available. If you have any questions about the service or if you would like to refer a young person to the Walk & Talk programme then please contact Hannah.wilson@yomo-online.co.uk.