Introducing Young, Wild & Well

Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, Belfast Hills Partnership and Ulster Wildlife will be able to continue providing outdoor nature-based sessions with children and young people in Belfast until 2029.

Following four successful years of the Wild Youth project, we are delighted to announce that funding has been secured to continue the joint project between the Belfast Hills Partnership and Ulster Wildlife. ‘Young, Wild and Well’ will build on the legacy of Wild Youth. The project will continue to support young people’s mental and physical health in the outdoors.

‘Young, Wild and Well’ will be delivered in collaboration with Barnardo’s NI.

‘We’re delighted to benefit from the experienced teams at the Ulster Wildlife Trust and Belfast Hills Partnership on this project. This will help improve the health and wellbeing of children and families that we support across Northern Ireland.’

– Dearbhla Holohan, Assistant Director of Children’s Services, Barnardo’s NI.

Young, Wild and Well

Spending time outdoors, especially while connecting with others, has massive benefits for our health and wellbeing. Many young people are still suffering from the effects that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on them. Through ‘Young Wild and Well’ we are hoping to create positive change for the lives of young people. Additionally protecting our green spaces and strengthening a sense of belonging to local communities.

This new phase of the youth-focused project will prioritise young people who are facing mental and physical health struggles. Additionally we will work with young people with special educational needs and disabilities. We hope that the impact of our project reaches the people who need it the most.

Belfast Hills Partnership Manager, Dr Lizzy Pinkerton shared her delight about the new project,

‘We are excited to start our new ‘Young, Wild and Well’ programme which builds on the brilliant work undertaken through our previous Wild Youth project. ‘Young Wild and Well’ will enable us to focus on young people with the greatest need. The programme uses nature as a tool to increase the health, wellbeing and employability of young people who experience poverty, disadvantage and discrimination around the Belfast Hills area.’

Peter Brown, Community Engagement Manager at Ulster Wildlife, said,

‘This is a superb opportunity for children and young people to become more connected to nature and more aware of the rich variety of habitats and species in their area. Ultimately, when young people become more engaged in their environment, they see more value in it and will want to look after it in the future. But apart from anything else, getting outdoors is fun and it’s good for our minds and bodies. Many thanks to the National Lottery Community Fund for recognising this and providing the funding to make it happen.’

Get Involved

Over the next three years, 90 members of our colleagues, volunteers, students, and young people, will receive specialist training to deliver outdoor, nature-based sessions. We look forward to supporting young people who will gain lasting benefits from taking part in Young, Wild and Well.

Funding Officer Gail McKenna from the National Lottery Community Fund said,

‘We are delighted to support the ‘Young, Wild and Well’ project. It is a wonderful example of using nature to encourage community-led action, we look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on the health and wellbeing of local young people.’

If you or your group of young people want to get involved or find out more information, please contact us. Call 028 9060 3466, visit the Wild Youth website or email [email protected]

Thank you to The National Lottery Community Fund and National Lottery Players for making our project possible.