Our Generation

OUR Generation is a partnership led by Action Mental Health, which aims to empower and invest in our young people. Bringing together the expertise of nine partner organisations, the project is committed to delivering impactful initiatives under the specific objective of ‘Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing.’

The OUR Generation Project was originally funded under the EU’s SEUPB PEACE IV programme and is now funded through the SEUPB Peace Plus programme. The goal is to provide a unique opportunity for communities, north and south of the Border, to work together to halt the intergenerational impact of trauma and to build emotional resilience and peace for generations to come.

The PEACE IV three-year project ran until September 2023, and engaged with 48,000 children, young people and their key contacts. The project was delivered in education, youth and community settings in the Urban Village Areas of Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Northern Ireland and Ireland. The cross border partnership of 7 regional organisations was led by Action Mental Health in partnership with Donegal Youth Service, Co-Operation Ireland, Youth Action NI, Youth Work Ireland, PlayBoard NI & Ulster University.

The latest phase of the project will run from 2024-2027, taking place in various education, youth and community settings across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. It will subsequently develop and deliver programmes focused on increasing mental health literacy, enhancing emotional resilience and building leadership skills in children and young people aged between nine and 25 years old. The project will also lead on research into mental health, social identity complexity and the impact of trauma upon our communities. It is anticipated that approximately 33,000 children and young people, along with 5,000 key youth workers will participate in the project overall.

4,900 key contacts of Children and Young People were equipped with the skills, knowledge and confidence to support the emotional resilience and wellbeing of Children and Young People including an improved understanding of mental health problems.

31,100 Children and Young People had improved emotional resilience, empathy and skills to help themselves and others. They also developed greater intercultural awareness and the capacity and desire to be active citizens in their communities. Children and Young People and their key contacts co-designed a range of digital resources including a social media app, animations and podcasts to support their own needs and those of the wider communities on a regional and national basis.