Written by Aly Coutts
The Complex Needs team and Safer Cornwall are celebrating their recent collaboration with the young parents project WILD. The team came together with WILD to improve health and wellbeing outcomes within this target group. Using co-production they explored, with experts by experience, the barriers to service users engaging with groups. They then decided Muay Thai may be just the sport that may entice young mums and dads to challenge themselves. The objectives were to encourage:
- Team bonding and camaraderie,
- Help with mental health, forming friendships and supporting each other,
- Cardio, core strength, stamina and flexibility,
- Achieve a sense of discipline and increased self-worth,
- Explore smoking cessation pathways.
An expert by experience was available after sessions for participants to chat with and talk about their experiences.
This was a learning experience for all and a piece of work which they enjoyed a great deal. The young people have continued to maintain supportive relationships with peers they met at the group, some have even continued to attend classes where possible. All said they really enjoyed the group and it encouraged them to take an hour for themselves to work on their own wellbeing and mental health.
“I feel it had a great impact. L has really thrown himself back into getting more physically fit and that is down to having attended this”.
Dads Worker Luke
Safer Cornwall look forward to working with WILD again in the future