A Case Study on Youth Work, Wellbeing, and Community Transformation by Dr Mark McFeeters
- youthinitiativesni
- Jan 19
- 2 min read
The New Community Project, delivered by Youth Initiatives (YI) and funded by the National Lottery, Empowering Young People Programme, was a four-year, youth-led programme targeting 1,600 young people (aged 13–18) from high social-need areas of Inner East and Outer West Belfast. The initiative aimed to support young people in navigating the post- COVID-19 landscape by improving their mental, emotional, social, and spiritual wellbeing using Youthwork methodologies and aligning with the NHS's Take 5 Steps to Wellbeing. This evaluation draws on four years of embedded research, including qualitative data (in-depth interviews and focus groups with over 60 participants) and ongoing quantitative analysis using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS). While the final quantitative results suggest little significant change in the emotional wellbeing of young people, the qualitative findings powerfully demonstrate the impact of YI’s holistic, relational approach to youth work. Participants consistently reported feeling safer, more confident, and more supported in their mental health journeys.
A key learning to emerge was the distinction between short-term changes in emotional state
and the longer-term development of life skills. Youth workers found it unrealistic to expect young people experiencing disadvantage, family breakdown, or trauma to report consistently high emotional wellbeing. Instead, the real value of the programme lay in equipping participants with coping strategies, practical skills, and resilience that could be carried into their wider lives. This reframing of resilience — not as a fixed trait, but as a set of skills that can be taught, practised, and strengthened — became central to the programme’s impact. Exit interviews reflected 30–70% growth in core life skills such as self-discipline, conflict resolution, and building healthy relationships, underscoring this shift.
The evaluation also highlights the enabling role of trusting relationships, safe youth-owned spaces, and meaningful youth voice. Young people consistently described YI as a place where they could be honest, feel understood, and try out new ways of coping. Emerging themes reveal that the programme not only fostered personal growth, resilience, and improved mental health, but also helped bridge divisions in a historically segregated city. Participants cited increased self-belief, stronger communication skills, deeper spiritual awareness, as well as greater community involvement. These findings suggest that this youth work model, grounded in trust, participation, and consistent relationships can meaningfully contribute to
public mental health and community cohesion in Northern Ireland.
I didn't just feel better - I felt seen, supported, and like I mattered - Young Participant, New Community Programme
