Hello! I’m Katy Duncan and I’m excited to introduce myself as the new Youth Participation and Engagement Worker for the Innovation Challenge project, “Enabling Connections through Green and Creative Spaces”. This work has been developed through new funding awarded to NHS Highland CAMHS to deliver community-based interventions alongside essential, third-sector partners, working in the Inverness and Lochaber localities. The aim is to support young people’s mental health while addressing the growing health and healthcare inequalities that shape both their present and future wellbeing.
The Innovation Challenge is a nationwide programme of work delivered by NHS Charities Together. They have funded our Highlands based project, alongside match funding from the Highland Health Board Endowment Funds Charity (SC016791) which focuses on helping young people connect with local green and creative spaces as a way of nurturing their wellbeing and building a sense of belonging. Nature-rich environments and creative communities offer powerful opportunities for expression, exploration, and relational resilience. This project seeks to create opportunities for young people to build trusting, positive connections with peers, staff, and their wider community. Collectively, we hope to make these spaces more accessible and meaningful for those who need them most.
The images below show some of the activities that have already been delivered as part of the project.
A central part of my role is building strong collaborations with partners including Space2Be and Room 13, Nature4Health, The Ledge, and the Clay Studio, and hopefully many more. I’ll be working closely with young people from local schools, supporting them to explore these outdoor and creative spaces as part of their wellbeing journey. Importantly, they won’t just participate – they’ll be co-creators, helping shape the sessions, activities, and settings that feel most meaningful to them. I’m incredibly passionate about fostering youth-led, inclusive spaces where young people feel a deep sense of place and purpose within their community. I’m looking forward to seeing what we can build together over the next two years, with their voices at the heart of the project.
For more information contact Katy Duncan- katy.duncan@nhs.scot
