You may have heard about The Wolfpack Project, Nottingham’s youth mental health charity, but did you know that Damien Reynolds, the charity’s founder lives in Mapperley? Not on that, did you know that Damien was awarded the BEM for services to the youth sector?
Founded in 2019, the Wolfpack Project is dedicated to reducing loneliness, isolation, and promoting positive mental health for young people in Nottingham.
Despite the needs of our young people, they are Nottingham’s only youth organisation dedicated to reducing loneliness and promoting positive mental health among people.
This is the latest assessment of the need for Wolfpack’s services.
- Over 100,000 of Nottingham’s population are young adults.
- 25% have poor mental health.
- 46% have difficulty making new friends.
- 43% have experienced loneliness & less than half feel loved.
How does Wolfpack tackle this?
Through a combination of one to one support, social groups, events, and more, they aim to create support networks and build communities between isolated young people.
Wolfpack is run by Nottingham locals who have had personal experience with loneliness and isolation in their lives. They pledge to provide safe and welcoming spaces to all young people, regardless of background or circumstance.
What are the Support Services?
The Wolfpack Project team knows the importance of experience and empathy when it comes supporting others through loneliness and poor mental health.
The team are trained in Mental Health First Aid trained. They will provide a range of support for young people. This may be one-to-one support, meet-ups and day trips.
The Wolfpack Project operates from its office locally too, in the Sherwood Business Centre.
After the announcement was made during the Queens Platinum Jubilee celebrations, Damien said:
Blown away to be named in the #QueensHonoursList and receive a #BritishEmpireMedal. What an awesome privilege!
Damien Reynolds BEM
After congratulating Damien and the Wolfpack team, we asked him why he chose to live in the Mapperley area.
‘ Mapperley Plains is a great area that is close to the city centre, but also with fantastic rural spots like the Dumbles and Gedling Country Park on its doorstep, so it really has the best of both worlds for me. The area has a community feel too and some fantastic local businesses like Spring Lane Farm Shop and Brookfields Garden Centre too. It was very much all of these reason my I chose to move to the area and why I can’t see myself moving anytime soon! ‘
