The Social Prescribing & Creative Empowerment Project for Young People (SPACE) is a non-clinical, early intervention, person-centred approach to youth mental health and wellbeing. This service has adapted the established HSE- Social Prescribing Framework to address the mental health and well-being challenges of young people, aged between 11-18 years. The SPACE project is based in the Maple Youth Centre,Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo. It is the first Social Prescribing service specifically designed for young people in Ireland.
Through its work, Tacú Family Resource Centre recognised the need to provide a specific early intervention programme targeted at young people to support their mental health. The project commenced in 2022 as an initial pilot and has since received funding from Rethink Ireland. The HeadStart Fund looks to support new and innovative ways of developing early intervention programmes to tackle youth mental health.
The SPACE project offers a person-centred approach where young peoples voices are heard empowering and enabling young people to build confidence, make connections, reduce isolation which in turn enables individuals to build resilience and live happy, healthy lives.
Author: Paula Walsh
Youth Social Prescriber
Tacú Family Resource Centre
Maple Youth Centre, Bowgate Street
Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo, F31 DD77
Phone: 087 243 0695
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/TacuFRCBallinrobe
Website: https://ballinrobetacufrc.com/