Young people from Special Schools have been taking part in the PEACE of Mind project, the programme in partnership with Verbal and Inspire Wellbeing, The Open University. Recently, young people made their own 'kindness' keyrings and bracelets. The keyrings and bracelets can serve as a reminder of all the skills they learned throughout their time on the programme and remind them to be kind to themselves and think positive!

By taking part in the programme the young people will have learned lots of different ways of increasing their emotional resilience, managing their feelings and taking care of themselves. Some young people (year 11 and above) may take part in the Peace of Mind peer mentor training in the near future. This will give them the opportunity to help youth officers run group sessions in the future.

The young people reported that they enjoyed "everything" about the programme and stated that they would have the programme running for 10 weeks instead of 6! They also appeared to enjoy making their own bracelets and keyrings, and celebrating all that they achieved throughout the programme in our last session.

Melissa, Peace of Mind Youth Officer, Northern Area, said: "Highlights included playing giant jenga, the parachute games, and games involving music and movement."

If Special Schools would like to find out more about the PoM project and access the 6 week programme please contact Geraint on: [email protected].

The PEACE of Mind is a regional personal development programme delivered across a six-week period and designed to enhance the emotional resilience and wellbeing of young people aged 9-25. The project aims to enhance the capacity of all children and young people with disabilities, brain injuries and autism to form positive and effective relationships with others from different cultural and religious backgrounds. It provides opportunities for skills development, community inclusion, improved social connections and health and wellbeing. The programme has received €7,699,611.00  from PEACEPLUS to deliver the programme.