Young people from across Fermanagh are getting creative as they focus on their wellbeing.

The Mencap NI Youth Team’s FIVE Project has been running in Fermanagh and Omagh since September, 2022 and is working with local school children.

Two of the most recent groups to work with the FIVE Project chose to get creative during their time on it

One group from Jones Memorial Primary School, Enniskillen, chose to create a podcast on mental health, and the other group from Willowbridge School decided to create a positive Mental Health Calendar.

Speaking about the project, Sean-Paul Curry, a youth worker with Mencap NI, said: “In Jones Memorial PS< when we asked the young people what they would like to do, someone mentioned that it would be cool to make a podcast.

“As part of our project focuses on improving the wellbeing of young people taking part, we chose to talk about mental health and how it affects them.

“For a few sessions before we recorded the podcast we worked with the young people on what they think mental health is, and who could help them if they were feeling sad.”

You can listen to the podcast recorded by the Jones Memorial PS pupils at https://seanpaulcurry.podbean.com/.

Meanwhile, at Willowbridge, the students decided they wanted to get creative behind the camera.

Sean Paul explained: “Our group from Willowbridge suggested that they would like to take part in a photography project and when we brainstormed ideas, they came up with the idea of a calendars with photographs they would take, accompanied by a positive quote which they would choose.

“The young people then thought it would be a good idea to raise money for their school by selling the calendar for £5, and donating the money to the school.

“If anyone would like to buy a calendar, please email seanpaul.curry@mencap.org.uk.”

The FIVE project is funded by the RTE Toy Show Appeal and The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland.