The 16–25 Mental Health Community Builder role supports young people across the Wakefield District to shape better, more accessible mental health support during key transitions into adulthood. The role focuses on building emotional resilience, strengthening community support networks and improving the way mental health services are experienced locally.

Working as part of the Wakefield Community Builder Team alongside NOVA and Age UK Wakefield District, and part of the Wakefield Mental Health Alliance, the role connects the VCSE sector with statutory services to reduce inequality in access to support.

The role works in partnership with Primary Care Mental Health Teams, the Wakefield Mental Health Partnership, community providers, and young people themselves, ensuring lived experience drives change.

A word from our Community Builder

Hi, my name is Charlotte. I am passionate about supporting others, especially young people, and I bring my own lived experience of mental health into this role. I see first-hand the challenges young people face every day, and this project gives me the opportunity to help create meaningful change.

I am currently in my first six months in post, working to understand the system, identify gaps in support, and listen to young people across the Wakefield District to shape our next steps. Young people can get involved by sharing their experiences directly with me, through partner organisations, or through the Young Lives Advisory Group:
(https://www.younglives.net/projects/cyp-participation/)

What this role aims to achieve

• Improve emotional wellbeing and mental health outcomes for young people aged 16–25.

• Strengthen the role of VCSE organisations as key delivery partners in mental health support.

• Support better transitions between children’s and adult mental health services.

• Identify strengths, assets and gaps in local provision through consultation and co-production.

• Reduce barriers to accessing support and ensure services reflect real needs and experiences.

How the work is delivered

• Engaging young people, community groups and professionals to gather insight and evidence.

• Co-producing plans and actions with young people and partners.

• Building partnerships to share learning, resources and best practice.

• Facilitating connections between mental health services and local grassroots support.

• Identifying and responding to service gaps, challenges and inequalities across the district.

• Promoting the strengths and value of the VCSE sector.

Key objectives

• Provide community development support to organisations working with 16–25-year-olds.

• Increase capacity and collaboration across VCSE and statutory partners.

• Collect, analyse and share insight from young people to influence strategy and service change.

• Support new opportunities, bids, and initiatives that improve emotional wellbeing.

• Promote trauma-responsive practice using the Resilience Framework.

• Champion co-production, lived experience and equal partnership working.

Vision

To build a trauma-responsive, connected community of support where every young person aged 16–25 can access the right mental health help, at the right time, in the right place — and where their voice genuinely shapes how services are designed and delivered.

Get in touch

If you would like to get involved, share your lived experience, collaborate as a partner organisation, or learn more about the project, please get in contact:

📧 charlotte@ylc.org.uk
📧 info@ylc.org.uk
☎ 01924 364198
📱 07708 471951