On 25th January 2024, Involve Meath made their way to the Ardboyne Hotel in Navan to collect their award for The No Shame Board Game at the Meath Garda Youth Awards.
This is another award to add to their collection for the Game as well as the overall No Shame Campaign. The game had been designed by the young people following from previous successes associated with the Mental Health campaign since it’s start in 2018. The young people have delivered a number of workshops on the game in local schools and youth clubs in Meath.
They were honoured to receive this award to recognise the work, time, and effort they have put into the development and progression of the game. They have used this tool to break down barriers associated with mental health for everyone but especially for those from the Traveller community where mental health is still hugely stigmatised within the community. The game allows youth to learn skills around naming your emotions, the benefits of positive affirmations and to develop coping skills.
Previously, the group have won an award from The Traveller Pride awards 2022 for the Game as well as at the National ETB awards in 2023. They also won an award at Creative Technology Fest 2023 for their No Shame Podcast which launched in 2023 and is currently available on Spotify. The podcast opens up on conversations on life as a Traveller in one episode, being a Youth Worker in a Traveller Youth project and many more topics.
The campaign has grown from strength to strength and due to the success of the project in Meath, Involve Youth & Community Services was awarded a 3-year funding in 2023 by Rethink as part of their Headstart Fund through Zurich Ireland and HSE. This project now employs a full time coordinator to roll our this project Nationally.
We are extremely proud of all of the young people who have been part of this project and look forward to continuing to see it grow.
