Thrive West Yorkshire:

A Youth Mental Wellbeing Program

Thrive West Yorkshire is set to be DK FoundNation CIC's flagship programme subject to successful funding, a 12-month wellbeing initiative supporting young people aged 13 to 21 across Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Kirklees, and Calderdale, with a particular focus on those from disadvantaged and marginalised backgrounds.

The programme was shaped by 18 months of conversation with over 100 young people, parents, educators, and mental health professionals, in response to record demand on children's mental health services and the gap many young people fall into when they're signposted back to their community with no support in place.

What's involved:

Interactive workshops on anxiety management, resilience, emotional intelligence, digital wellbeing, and self-esteem
Peer mentorship circles
Creative expression sessions, including journaling, art, music, and spoken word
Parental engagement sessions
An online resource hub and regular wellbeing check-ins
A youth advisory panel shaping the programme as it runs
A closing celebration event

Our approach:
Thrive is a wellbeing and early-intervention programme, not a clinical service. Every young person is supported by enhanced DBS-checked staff, under a named Designated Safeguarding Lead, with a clear pathway to GPs, local CAMHS, or emergency services where needed, and mentors receive monthly clinical supervision throughout.

What we're aiming for:
Reduced stigma around mental health, practical coping strategies young people can use for life, greater confidence and resilience, trusted mentor relationships, and stronger communication within families. We're measuring our impact through the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale alongside attendance data and feedback from young people and parents.