Coventry youth group receives grant to help destigmatise mental health
The funding comes at a time when many youth centres have faced closure.
Mt Zion Youth Vibes provides support to young people
Submitted by Macdonald Chimbizi
A local support group has been awarded a community project grant for its work in helping BAME young people.
Mt Zion Youth Vibes - which is based in Coventry in the West Midlands - has received £9,985 from The National Lottery Community Fund to use over a 12-month period.
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, the group has been hosting fortnightly online sessions to raise awareness of mental health.
The sessions also teach young people how to cope with stress.
They feature different speakers and have been a chance for participants to get career guidance and take part in fitness programmes.
Dr Rutendo Ganyani, the youth club project coordinator, said: "The fund has allowed us to come together, albeit online, during a time of social isolation; to put a smile on the faces of young people whose world was otherwise dominated with news of illness and death.
"This has brought moments of joy and delivered tools to young people that will last them a lifetime”.
Mt Zion Youth Vibes is run by a team of volunteers with different backgrounds in areas such as education, social work, health work and law.
Faith Leader, Rev Dr Nomatter Sande, the charity youth project supervisor, said: "The project has been instrumental in building socialisation skills, boosting mental health and reducing antisocial behaviour."
Community members can get in touch with the club here for support, social services signposting and help when isolating.
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