Young people from Gosforth have created a mental health and wellbeing walking guide after taking part in a youth programme run by regional charity The Key.
The resource was developed through The KEY+ Challenge, which helps young people build confidence, develop skills and turn their ideas into projects that make a positive difference.
Caitlyn, Lacey, Lauren and Martha, who make up the group Push & Pull, designed the mental health and wellbeing walking booklet to encourage people to explore the positive impact spending time outdoors can have on wellbeing.
Inspired by their own experiences of being outdoors, the group from Gosforth East Middle School visited local forest wellbeing trails before deciding to create a resource that could help others connect with nature and support their mental health.
Caitlyn said:
“We wanted to do something around mental health because we thought it was important. We realised spending time outside had helped us and wanted to create something that could help other people as well.”
The group designed and produced the booklet themselves, featuring local walks alongside activities and exercises that encourage people to spend more time outdoors. They also organised a walk and picnic for younger pupils at their school, giving them the opportunity to experience the benefits of spending time outside first-hand.
From researching ideas and planning activities to creating the final resource, the young people led every stage of the project themselves.
For Lacey, the experience was transformative.
“Before KEY+ I wasn’t as confident as I am now. It helped me realise that my ideas mattered and that I was capable of helping to create something that could make a difference.”
The project has already attracted interest beyond the group’s local community. A counsellor in Middlesbrough and an autism charity in Sunderland have expressed interest in exploring whether similar resources could be created for the people they support.
Rebecca Maw, CEO of The Key, said:
“This project shows what can happen when young people are trusted to lead. The young women identified an issue that mattered to them and turned their ideas into a practical resource that is already attracting interest beyond their own community.
“Just as importantly, they have been given the opportunity to take the lead and discover what they are capable of. At The Key, we believe every young person should have these opportunities, and this group are a fantastic example of that in action.”
The Key works with young people across the North East, helping them develop the confidence, skills and resilience to thrive. Through programmes such as KEY+, young people are supported to explore what matter to them, develop their own solutions and make a positive impact in their communities.
Through the programme, Push & Pull not only created a resource designed to support the wellbeing of others but also developed confidence, teamwork, leadership and problem-solving skills that will support them long into the future.
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