A group of 40 Belfast secondary school students have completed training to support younger students with their mental health, thanks to support from Clanmil Housing. 

The Year 13 students who attend Belfast Boys Model, Belfast Girls Model, St Malachy’s and Mercy College, have been trained to become peer mentors by youth workers from Streetbeat Youth project and the Youth Education Health Advice team over 20 weeks.  

The training has equipped the peer mentors with the skills to listen to and support Year 8 students with concerns like bullying and loneliness, as well as recognizing when more specialist help is needed from school youth workers or counsellors.  

As well as gaining useful experience, the participants have attained an OCN Level 2 in Peer Mentoring Skills and Techniques qualification. 

The project is supported through the NI Executive Together: Building a United Community Strategy, which reflects the Executive’s commitment to improving community relations and continuing the journey towards a more united and shared society.  

Steve Morrison of Streetbeat Youth Project, based in north Belfast said: 

“We're grateful to Clanmil for supporting us to bring the peer mentoring into schools in Belfast. Research* found that just over 12% of children and young people in Northern Ireland experience mood disorders like anxiety and depression (around 25% higher than in the rest of the UK) so there is clearly a need for support. Young people are more likely to talk to people of a similar age about their problems, which is why this project has been so successful when we’ve run it on a pilot basis before. As well as helping the younger students, the project is also beneficial to the peer mentors who are gaining useful experience if they choose to continue youth work in the future.” 

Lauren Hamidi Craig, Community Investment Officer at Clanmil added: 

“This project is vitally important as it is helping young people gain new skills as well as providing support for those younger students who are in need of help. At Clanmil we’re always keen to support initiatives like this one, that will empower individuals and strengthen communities. This project also encourages young people from different backgrounds to work together, which aligns with the good relations work we carry out in the areas where we manage shared housing.” 

During their training, the peer mentors spend time with their counterparts in other schools so they can get to know each other and share common experiences. Once they have completed their training, the mentors meet the Year 8 students at an assembly in the school, then spend time in their form classes to get to know them. The mentors are ‘on duty’ in communal areas in the school at break and lunchtime, wearing a ‘peer mentor’ hoodie so the students will know who they are and can approach them for help.  

Mary Montgomery, Principal at Belfast Boys’ Model School said: 

“I am really delighted that our boys are benefitting from peer mentoring and I am grateful to Clanmil for their support of Street Beat Youth Services. They do a fantastic job in training the peer mentors who gain skills and experiences that are hugely valuable as the progress into civic society and the world of work. Importantly for us, the peer mentors provide a reliable and approachable source of wellbeing support to younger pupils, in a way that is making a tangible difference. It is amazing for the boys.” 

One of the peer mentors who has completed the training is Maddox Montgomery who commented: 

“It’s important for some of the younger ones that we’re available, so they know they have someone to talk to, and that someone is there for them. I’m looking forward to meeting the other peer mentors at the other schools.” 

Mason Mallon is one of the Year 8 students who met the peer mentors at a special assembly and workshop. He said: 

“The peer mentors seem very friendly. It’s a good idea and you can get help in school if you’re getting bullied, or you just want to talk to someone.” 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*The Youth Wellbeing Survey (2020) was commissioned by the Health and Social Care Board, from Transformation funding from the Department of Health. The survey and report was compiled by Ulster University, Queen’s University Belfast, and the Mental Health Foundation over 18 months. 

About shared housing

Clanmil manages 11 shared housing developments in Northern Ireland and is promoting a further three. 

The ‘Housing for All’ Shared Housing Programme has its origins in the NI Executive Together: Building a United Community Strategy which reflects the Executive’s commitment to improving community relations and continuing the journey towards a more united and shared society.  

Felden, Newtownabbey is a shared housing development managed by Clanmil and supported by the Department for Communities and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. Just over £6m was invested in the development of the scheme and associated five-year Good Relations Plan which supports project within a five-mile radius. Felden was established in 2016 as part of the NI Executive Together: Building A United Community Strategy