(Image: Joe Williams, ABF’s recently appointed young advisor)
Mental health and wellbeing charity Advance Brighter Futures (ABF) has appointed a young advisor to get a more youthful representation on its mental health services in Wrexham.
Mental health affects increasing numbers of young people every year and ABF has responded by bringing in Joe Williams, 17, to help guide and shape the charity moving forwards.
Joe is the current mental health ambassador for Coleg Cambria’s Yale Campus, so when ABF approached the college to see if they could recommend a young person to help them out, Joe was an obvious choice.
Recently, Joe helped ABF to organise, and took part in, ‘The Big Pizza Party’ at the charity’s building on Belmont Road. The event brought together under-25s to share their views about the future of mental health services for young people.
“EXCITED TO HAVE JOE’S KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ENTHUSIASM”
Lorrisa Roberts, ABF Chief Officer, said: “We’re really pleased to have brought Joe into the fold and he’s made an impact already. We want to support young mental health as much as we can, but we’re also aware we’re not the youngest bunch at ABF, having just one paid member of staff under-25, so we were keen to get an extra voice on these issues.
“Joe has brought us what we were lacking, and we thank Coleg Cambria for putting us in touch with him. Looking ahead, we’re hopeful Joe will go on to represent us on a youth board for a partnership ABF is involved in, seeking funds to develop young people’s mental health services in North East Wales.
“It was also fantastic that Joe came along to our recent staff meeting and got to meet all the team. The whole team is excited to have Joe’s knowledge, skills and enthusiasm, which will help us to meet the needs of young people in our community.”
Joe Williams said: “I’m really happy to have this opportunity to help out ABF and I’ve been warmly welcomed by everyone. Mental health is an extremely prevalent issue in today’s world and impacts the lives of many people, young people included. I hope that through my role I can help ABF to carry on doing amazing work in the community and helping local people with their mental health and wellbeing.”
To learn more about Advance Brighter Futures and its services please visit www.advancebrighterfutureswrexham.co.uk
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