Mental Health Ambassadors

The Mental Health Ambassador Project in partnership with the Mental Wealth Academy is about using young people’s lived experience to inform and develop ways to reach out and support the younger generation (ages 11-17).

This project is about being creative, looking inwards and finding your voice to inspire and support others.

Over 10 months, ambassadors participate in interactive sessions to develop confidence, friendships, knowledge around the topic, and leadership skills. Sessions include: building resilience to social media; coping techniques e.g. mindfulness; leadership skills; safeguarding training; elements of mental health first aid; and workshop delivery. Ambassadors participate in group work, 1:1 sessions, different training sessions, and independent study. As a team they then create and support the delivery of a project for 11-17 year olds to help learn more about mental health and wellbeing.

We are currently running an in house Mental Health Ambassador cohort for young people at SOFEA, a group of young people have volunteered to do this programme to train to be Mental Health Ambassadors within SOFEA. The will help run wellbeing sessions at SOFEA and work with the staff to develop the wellbeing and mental health support.

After you have completed the initial Mental Health Ambassador training you then have the option to become a Mental Health Ambassador Mentor and you will take on a mentoring role for the next cohort.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here is a list of commonly asked questions and answers

Yes, you can still claim benefits.

The time commitment is around 4-5 hours a month. The time dedicated to this can be flexible to fit around your schedule. However, there will be specifics dates set in for training.

It’s likely we’ll meet as a group. As the ambassadors will be from around the county we will meet in central Oxford, COVID depending. These meetings will take place around once a month. If you deliver a session or workshop you will also need to travel to this destination.

Yes, you will be able to claim reimbursement for travel.

You will be able to fit this around full time/part time study and work. The schedule will be decided around the group of ambassadors.

No this is not accredited however you will be able to reference this project in applications.

As a result of COVID we will follow the official guidelines. It’s likely that some training and group meetings may be online.