‘Taking part in GMYN’s wellbeing sessions felt like a weight being lifted off my shoulders’ 

One of our young people has shared how taking part in our wellbeing sessions boosted his confidence and made him feel like ‘a weight was being lifted off his shoulders’.

Isaac from Trafford first heard about GMYN when he was 21 through an employment programme and began attending our music wellbeing sessions to help with his mental health.

Isaac, now 24, says: “I was really passionate about music at the time, I just love music. I wanted to grow my confidence and learn about music at the same time.

“I was struggling quite a bit and going there felt like having a weight lifted off my shoulders.” 

Isaac learnt about music production during the sessions while also meeting other young people and forming lifelong friendships.

Isaac says GMYN is ‘really important’ to the young people it supports and says: “They include people, bring people in and help people.” 

GMYN’s wellbeing sessions have been made possible thanks to funding from the charity campaigner Michael Josephson MBE.

Our supporter Michael kindly donated a huge £25,000 through his MJBall in 2023 to help GMYN deliver mental health and wellbeing programmes that provide vital emotional wellbeing support and development activities for young people.

Michael previously said: “GMYN has seen a huge increase in demand for its support, particularly around young people’s mental health. The money will provide one-to-one and group activities, including wellbeing support, teambuilding, music, outdoor activities, and arts and crafts.”

In recent years there has been a significant rise in poor mental health among young people. In England one in five young people between the ages 8-25 are now likely to be experiencing mental health challenges, according to latest NHS data. 

At GMYN, we provide young people with a safe and supportive space where they can build their confidence, learn essential skills and take part in activities and programmes that boost their mental health – including wellbeing sessions.

Our activities include:

• Wellbeing support: one-to-one and group activities, including mental health support, teambuilding, entrepreneurial skills, outdoor activities, music and arts and crafts.

• Participating in fun social sessions to improve mental health and develop friendships, including arts and crafts, bowling, cycling, walks, and water sports.

• Life skills activities: including cooking, budgeting, money management, travel training, healthy lifestyles –all skills young people need to live independently.

• Volunteering and Social Action projects to gain new skills, learn more about their community and make new friends.

A huge thank you to Micheal for his support, the money he raises is transformative to charities and the young people we support at GMYN.