Charity

Many 16-25 year olds in Wales worried mental health will stop career goals

Published

11 months ago

January 29, 2024

THE Prince’s Trust NatWest Youth Index 2024 highlights the threat of poor mental health on young people’s employment and aspirations for the future
Over the report’s 15-year history, happiness and confidence in young people’s mental health shows biggest decline compared to other factors
Happiness in work, education and money at all time low2, with almost one fifth (17 per cent) of young people in Wales stating a mental health issue has stopped them applying for a job
Research suggests cost of living crisis is exacerbating these issues, with over one third (37 per cent) of young people in Wales reporting that worrying about money has made their mental health much worse

The Prince’s Trust NatWest Youth Index 2024, released today, finds that almost one third (32 per cent) of 16–25-year-olds in Wales are worried their mental health will stop them achieving their career goals.

The Youth Index is an annual research report based on a YouGov survey of 2,239 16- to 25-year-olds across the UK 3, gauging young people’s confidence and happiness across a range of areas, from their physical and mental health to money and working life.

This year’s research shows the overall wellbeing of young people remains low, with happiness and confidence in mental health seeing the biggest decrease compared to other factors over the 15-year history of the research. Happiness in work, education, qualifications and money are at all-time lows.

In Wales almost one fifth (17 per cent) of young people report a mental health issue has stopped them applying for a job or attending an interview (10 per cent) during the last 12 months, with over a quarter (26 per cent) missing school or work in the past year due to their mental health. The report finds that over half (52 per cent) of 16 to 25-year-olds in Wales have experienced a mental health problem, while (23 per cent) report their mental health has got worse in the last year.

The findings suggest that the rising cost of living and economic uncertainty is exacerbating mental health issues and its impacts, as over one third (37 percent) of young people say that worrying about money has made their mental health much worse. Over half (51 per cent) in Wales state the cost of living crisis has had a worse impact on their life than the pandemic. Over two fifths (43 per cent) of young people say thinking about money depresses or stresses them, with over half (58 per cent) worrying that the crisis means they’ll never be financially secure.

Sarah Jones, Director of Delivery at The Prince’s Trust said: “This year’s report shows that rising rates of poor mental health are significantly impacting young people’s education and early careers in Wales.

“With unemployed 16 – 25-year-olds consistently reporting the worst overall wellbeing, it also shows us – and young people tell us – that being in employment is good for their mental health, gives their lives stability and financial security, and enables them to feel positive about their future.

“Unless we take immediate action, this trap of poor mental health and employment struggles exacerbating each other, threatens to close in on a generation. Urgent support is needed from partners, government and employers, to support young people to break this cycle.”

In Wales, over half (50 per cent) worry about not having the right skills and qualifications, or the right experience (60 per cent) to get a job in the future. Over one third (34 per cent) of young people don’t feel in control of their future. They also report not feeling confident they will achieve their goals in life (22 per cent) and (25 per cent) say they will fail in life.

Sandi Royden, Head of Youth and Families, NatWest, said: “These findings show that we should not underestimate the impact the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis have had on the daily lives of our young people, their financial confidence and their future aspirations. They also highlight the resilience of the next generation with so many feeling determined to achieve their goals in the face of these challenges.

“Through our partnership with the Prince’s Trust, we are able to better understand the needs of young people and take the right action through initiatives like NatWest Thrive, to help them to improve both their financial wellbeing and future confidence, to better equip them to achieve their goals.”

In Wales young people report that having a job is good for their mental health (63 per cent), enables them to feel confident about their future (68 per cent) and gives them a sense of purpose in life (60 per cent). Almost three quarters (73 per cent) report that having a job gives them the financial stability they need and will help get them through the cost of living crisis (70 per cent).

Over two thirds (69 per cent) of young people in Wales feel determined to achieve their goals in life. One third (33 per cent) report help with securing work experience or training would help them achieve their career ambitions. This is followed by help to build confidence (32 per cent) CV and interview skills (29 per cent), skills for work (21 per cent) and improve their qualifications (26 percent).

The Prince’s Trust helps tens of thousands of young people in each year to build the confidence and skills they need to realise their potential. Three in four young people on Prince’s Trust programmes move into work, education or training. 

NatWest have worked in partnership with The Prince’s Trust for over 20 years, helping thousands of young people to start their own businesses, develop skills for employment and supported hundreds of staff to volunteer with young people across the UK.

Charity

Flats for veterans to be built at VC Gallery, Pembroke Dock

Published

1 day ago

December 20, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL to build flats for armed forces veterans on a former Pembrokeshire school yard/playing field next to veterans’ charity the VC Gallery has been approved by county planners.

In an application before Pembrokeshire County Council, veterans’ charity The VC Gallery sought permission for eight flats in two blocks of two-storey buildings, including wheelchair accessible flats, for Armed Forces veterans on land to the east of the former St Marys Catholic School site, Britannia Road, Pembroke Dock.

The former school, which closed in 2019, is currently used as the VC Gallery, itself an expansion of veterans’ charity the VC Gallery’s home in Haverfordwest, set up by Barry John MBE.

Documentation, through agent Pembroke Design Limited included a supporting statement by Barry John MBE, which it says “explains the issues that veterans face after leaving the services, the need for dedicated housing provision, the support that VC Gallery’s staff and volunteers provide and the gaps in current provision which the proposed development will help address”.

It added: “Although the development will provide and encourage independent living for its tenants, essential physical and mental support will be provided by the staff and volunteers in the VC Gallery as required, in accordance with individual veterans’ needs. Many will need a high level of support and the close proximity of the flats to the facilities and people on hand in the adjacent VC Gallery is therefore critical to the proposal’s purpose.”

Mr John’s statement said: “We want to create a unique offer to Armed Forces veterans in Pembrokeshire by offering up not just quality accommodation in a gated and safe environment but to also have a bespoke peer mentoring service.”

He added: “Working alongside our stakeholders The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust and the OVA (Office of Veterans Affairs) we have secured a grant to draw up plans and to look at how the secured land at the VC Gallery Pembroke Dock can be turned into a bespoke housing solution for Armed Forces Veterans.

“We have Service level agreements with the local authority for specifically supporting tenancy in veterans which will also extend to giving vital counselling services. Our work with the health board and provision for peer mentorship also gives us great grounding for effective help on a practical level for the veterans’ village but we will need a more designated package around the housing we provide to include both mental health and also maintenance (something we don’t have at present).”

His statement finished: “We think the need is great, we have the land, we have the skills for care and the ambition to help. It would be a project above all social housing enterprises, and we want to make a go of it.”

Charity

Lifeboat station treasurer dies suddenly after 26 years of service

Published

1 day ago

December 20, 2024

Tom Sinclair

RNLI St Davids lifeboat station is mourning the loss of their treasurer, John James, who passed away suddenly on Friday (Dec 20) after 26 years of dedicated service.

John played a pivotal role in the station’s management team, ensuring the smooth running of local accounts and overseeing the reimbursement of training expenses for volunteers. His hard work and commitment were instrumental in supporting the vital work of the RNLI.

Beyond his financial expertise, John was a respected figure within the wider community. Known for his warmth, professionalism, and steadfast dedication to the RNLI’s values, he leaves behind a legacy of unwavering service and friendship that will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

The St Davids RNLI team and the local community are united in their grief at his sudden passing. His contributions, both to the station and to those around him, have left an indelible mark.

The thoughts and prayers of the RNLI family and the community are with John’s loved ones at this difficult time. Heartfelt condolences are extended to his family and friends as they navigate this profound loss.

Charity

Welsh teen wins photography competition with ‘perfect puffin pic’

Published

2 days ago

December 19, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A STRIKING image of a puffin on Skomer Island in west Wales has been hailed the winner of this year’s prestigious RSPCA Young Photographer Awards – a year which saw the charity mark its historic 200th anniversary.

The winning entry was from Anwen Whitehead, 15, from Cnwch Coch in Aberystwyth, and announced at a ceremony at the Tower of London held today (Thursday 19 December) – a special and historic event which also celebrates the RSPCA’s milestone anniversary.

Every year, the RSPCA Young Photographer Awards invites young people aged 18 years and under to capture the animal kingdom on a camera or a mobile device. This supports the RSPCA’s mission of inspiring everyone to create a better world for every animal.

The judges praised the emotion and composition of Anwen’s Puffin photograph ‘Daydreaming in the Chamomiles’, marvelling at how tough it is to photograph puffins and remarking on the beautiful, diffused background.

Winner Anwen from West Wales said: “It’s very surreal and amazing to have won. I think this will really encourage me to keep going and push to make this a career. I was amazed at being shortlisted as a finalist so to win makes me determined to keep going and keep improving. I’ve won a few local competitions but nothing on this scale!”

Having only started taking photographs as a serious hobby last year, Anwen explained that the puffin photo which was snapped on a long anticipated visit to Pembrokeshire’s famous Skomer Island was one of her favourite photographs.

Anwen explained that she can quite happily spend 10 hours in a bird hide, or out in a field in camouflage gear at sunrise to get the perfect photo.

She said: “That’s my happy place. It’s very relaxing to be out in nature and away from screens. It allows me to slow down a little bit. It can take a long time but it’s always worth it in the end and the buzz afterwards lasts all day or all week!

“I’ve always had a love of animals. We live in rural Wales so I’m surrounded by animals and nature. I think it’s really important to try and help protect nature through photography by showing both the magic and the fragility of nature to help make people realise how special nature really is. I see wildlife photography as a tool for conservation by helping to spread the word.”

Remarkably, a number of photos submitted by Anwen were recognised this year. As well as being overall winner, Anwen’s puffin photo also won the 12-15 category; while her red squirrel image ‘Sergeant Squirrel reporting for duty’ was commended in the same category. Another red squirrel image ‘Peckish’ was commended in the 12-15 mobile category and her swallows image placed runner-up in the City Life section. Finally, her ‘Puffin Paradise’ collection came runner-up in the Portfolio category meaning Anwen had a whopping seven images shortlisted in the final.

All entries are judged entirely anonymously, and separately from one another, which makes Anwen’s multiple successes this year even more staggering.

To mark the charity’s 200th birthday, the RSPCA added two new categories – ‘Better World’ which imagines what a better world for animals looks like, and ‘City Life’ – which highlights how animals are all around us and shows how we can live harmoniously together.

Chris Packham, TV presenter, RSPCA President and supporter of the awards since its inception over 30 years ago, said: “As ever, this is a wonderful portfolio of work. This competition always attracts very strong entries and my special congratulations goes to all the winners and of course, especially, to the overall winner.”

Chris, who couldn’t attend the ceremony in person but recorded a special video message for the winners, added: “Photography is a great way of communicating your love for, your passion for, your fascination for, and your concern for animals. I think it’s really important that we use that as a tool at this particular time when a lot of animals are in trouble. Being able to use your imagination, creativity and ingenuity to come up with something personally unique and powerful is a very important tool.”

This year’s awards were judged by a panel of photography experts, including wildlife photographer Rachel Bigsby; former competition winner-turned-professional photographer Catriona Parfitt; professional wildlife photographer and photographic guide Ellie Rothnie; and RSPCA photographers Andrew Forsyth and Emma Jacobs. And for the first time this year – Fabian Rivers, known as the ‘Dready Vet’, an exotic animal and wildlife vet and RSPCA ambassador who appears on CBBC’s The Pets Factor.

Fabian said: “It’s a great honour to be involved in the inspiring RSPCA Young Photographer Awards this year. The calibre of entries has been staggering. Anwen’s puffin image is technically great, it’s sharp and evokes such lovely emotions. There’s a real story behind it and it was a clear winner for me.”

Other prize winners included last year’s talented overall winner Jamie Smart, aged nine, from Powys, Mid Wales, who won Pet Portraits with an image of her cat titled ‘Not Impressed’, and ‘Ready for Bed’ which features an owl won the Better World category, followed by her kingfisher image ‘City Fisher’ which won City Life. She also secured the top spot in the Under 12s category with ‘Rise of the Gannet’, and placed runner-up or commended with a further four images.

Other winners included;

Austin Lake, 13, from Devon, won Pet Personalities with his black and white photo of his cat,
Chris Wardell, 18, from Wiltshire, won Small World with his silhouetted spider, and the Portfolio category with a selection of back-lit fox photos,
Arlo Rautenbach, age 10 from Cornwall, won the Under 12 category with his photo of a slow worm,
Nathaniel Gingell, age 14 from Hampshire, won the 12-15 mobile category with a photo of a group of dogs,
Daisy Pipe, age 16 from Dorset, won the 16-18 mobile category with her tomato wasp image,
Anton Poon, 17, from Buckinghamshire, won the 16-18 category with an image of a robin

Sponsors of the competition are Natures Images (wildlife photography holidays) and Camtraptions (camera traps for wildlife photography). Winners in each category were awarded trophies and a selection of prizes at the Tower of London ceremony and as the Overall Winner, Anwen Whitehead received a weekend photography break with Natures Images. This fabulous prize- the Deer Rut Special – includes two nights’ accommodation for the winner and a parent/guardian.

The RSPCA Young Photographer Awards 2025 opens for entries on 6 May.

The full gallery of all the winning images can be viewed here.