SIXTEEN young people will be funded in a pilot mental health first aid training by the go-getting efforts of Saddleworth Youth Committee.

The initiative, which launches next month, ensures Saddleworth School can guarantee support of qualified young people to help address the international issue of Mental Health problems in the young.

Youth committee chair Joe Wheeler announced the plan’s success to the Saddleworth and Lees district executive.

“We will then ensure we can implement a well-structured programme into our local secondary schools, and in our local feeder primary schools too,” he said.

The Saddleworth Youth Committee (SYC) was established in June, 2017, and, alongside guidance by Sue Palfrey, Cllr Jamie Curley, and Cllr. Katrina Roman, the committee has flourished.

The group established three main aims - tackling inequality, mental health and community cohesion.

Now, on the offer of support by Saddleworth Rotary Club, the SYC is keen to work towards putting a plan in place for tackling the "taboo" topic of mental health.

Joe said: “Mental health is a growing concern and young people are often unaware of, or unable to access support.

“It is still a taboo subject, with people being frightened of the stigma, leaving them unable to talk about issues or situations affecting them.

“Through informal consultation, we have identified that the transition period from primary to secondary school and from secondary school to further education are times which can be very difficult to navigate.”

The pilot project in Saddleworth and Lees would expand across the borough to raise awareness and provide training opportunities to Saddleworth Peer Support pupils.

They would develop and plan activities for young people, contact primary schools with activities to Year Six and 11 pupils and provide opportunities for them to mix, team build and discuss experiences.

“We want to enable young people develop their coping strategies, self-reliance and resilience,” added Joe.

“We have contacted Saddleworth School, who have offered their full support, and we're yet to contact the Saddleworth District Team, the Dovestones’ Partnership, Oldham Youth Council, and Mahdlo, and we are yet to expand the list in order to deliver sessions to groups of year 6 and year 11 children.”