The next eight week course starts on Sunday 6 June, and teens are encouraged to sign up to the free programme as soon as possible to secure a space.
The hour and a half sessions are run on Sunday afternoons as part of an eight week programme, in which small groups of teenagers are supported by skilled instructors as well as trained youth workers. The course is designed to help teens tackle things like mild anxiety or low mood, or to improve self confidence and esteem.
Cllr Bill Handley, Lead Cabinet Member Community Resilience, Health and Wellbeing at South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “As a pilot, we have run this course a couple of times already and the feedback from the young people who attended has been very positive. The last school year was badly disjointed by Covid and some young people have been very severely affected by it. Some are finding it more difficult than before to socialise outside of school and they need a little help to rebuild their confidence. The course leaders are so friendly and it’s a really reassuring environment. One recent attendee said how the course had shown them that socialising is OK and doesn’t have to be nerve-wracking.
“If you think the course would benefit you – or someone you know – please contact our team as they will be happy to chat to you about your worries and whether these activity sessions could help. Please remember the course is free, and all equipment will be provided for free too.”
A parent of a recent participant said: “Wild Minds proved to be a lifeline at a time when we were on waiting lists for professional support. As a parent, I am hugely grateful for the opportunity to speak with the youth support worker running the sessions to gain advice and support as we sat on waiting lists. I think just the realisation that they weren’t the only one dealing with difficult emotions helped. It helped them to open up more to us at home which has been very helpful.”
The course has been developed by South Cambridgeshire District Council together with Cambridge Sport Lakes Trust (which runs Milton Country Park) and is also supported by a Clinical Psychologist.
Register free for the course here