Very Important Kids (VIK)
VIK is a group of 25 children and young people aged 11 to 24, representing young people across the country and advising YoungMinds on its policy and campaign objectives. We have been funded till March 2013 by the Big Lottery to drive our influence further afield, advising lead politicians and policy makers, continue campaigning and promote emotional wellbeing for all.
The VIK group meet together every two months to discuss this work, advising our team on what they want to do and see change. The group facilitates much of the discussion itself with staff as support.
VIK are trained and supported to do high profile work and lobbying. To date VIK have appeared on TV, radio, contributed to government policy reports, attended parliament, facilitated workshops and spoken at national conferences for CAMHS and the British Psychological Society. We have also recently won the DSC Social Change Award for our influencing skills… and we are only six months in!
This is a temporary site and will soon showcase all of the work we have done as well as host blogs and peer guidance and anything else that springs to mind . The website’s design and content will come from VIK and we hope it will be up and running by early summer 2010. So watch this space!!!
If you are interested in becoming a VIK drop us an email to Seema.Inamdar@youngminds.org.uk and we will let you know if we have any spaces. You can also join Healthy Heads, our virtual community of young people.
To learn more about what they do, download the information sheet below.
Information sheet
Latest VIK videos
Obsession by Sarah
Positive Rush (self-harm) by Sarah
Not perfect by Hannah
Depression by Rhiannon
Poetry
This poem was read out by Rachael at the launch of VIK.
In a nation that believes in human rights,
I've heard of and experienced appalling sites.
People abused, ignored and judged,
A society where hate often comes before love.
A familiar theme is poor mental health,
Which doesn't discriminate between culture of wealth
I could write a poem focused on blame,
Attempt to put many wrongdoers to shame.
The government, the media, parents and peers,
We've all been held guilty over the years.
But instead I want to make good out of bad,
Not make society defensive and mad.
It would be easy to sit back and sigh;
"I can't change the world, so why bother try?"
But that is not true, for a difference we can make,
and together we will see changes take place.
... and this isn't just about us VIKs!
Mental health is everyone's business,
It could be you son, daughter or you one day.
© 2010 Rachael Haddon
