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Removed
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This charity was removed from the register on 18 Dec 2019
Public benefits
The main purpose of this charity is to be an easy and accessible way to support the mental health of young adults currently studying further education through an online chat. We will also aim to educate young people to deal with stress, and advise on external organisations designed to help depending on the type of help they require. This service
will help students through out their time at uni and aims to teach the skills required for coping with stress which they can take into adulthood. For listeners, the charity will serve as a boost in helping students become more employable through the skills learnt through participating; which include communication, teamwork and listening. This may not only help to develop personality but also help to develop their CV – thus helping towards a future career. Their participation will also go towards obtaining either the Edge Award or Millennium Volunteer award – an incentive to put the effort in long term. There are also social benefits in volunteering in this group, events and weekly meetings are expected to take place to give updates and to ask the students how they feel about their experiences. In severe cases, students using the service will be advised via disclaimer to contact carecall a service already used by the university. If a student decides to use the service anyway, full training will have been provided already to deal with such matters. The student will be able to identify level of risk and will be given a list of contact numbers for support, or the police in more extreme cases. During all online chats there will always be another supervisor online who also has access to chats. This is to protect both our volunteers and students as personal details are not to be shared online, nor abuse of the policies tolerated. In the instance that a volunteer needs help to deal with a chat, the supervisor will be there to support and guide through the online service. Failing this and whilst in a difficult chat, the student can call the supervisor via a direct line. Listeners will also receive a de-briefing once a week to ensure no negative effects on their own mental health. To measure effectiveness of this service, research methods will be used and evaluated each month and annually. At Lean On Me everyone is accepted regardless of individual differences outlined in The Northern Ireland Act 1998, section 75. Lean On Me will work alongside other charities and colleges/universities such as Ulster University, Queens, Oasis Causeway Mental Health, Lifeline, Care call, Ed Next and some local councillors. Lean On Me is currently a charity which will only benefit students living in Northern Ireland.
... [more] [less]What your organisation does
Lean On Me is an online emotional support network designed to tackle mental health, stress levels and to aid young adults transitioning into adulthood. Stress can have devastating effects on mental and physical health (Vanltallie, 2002), and the pressure of becoming a student can increase stress and anxiety levels considerably (Chang, et. Al,
2016). Learning to deal with this stress now could be an important factor in preventing further work-related stress or making it worse – by triggering an additional health problem (as per LFS, 2012). Students often have the opinion that they need to show themselves as a success, thus they may refrain from getting help until things have gotten much worse. Through using the online chat with Lean On Me, students can keep their reputation and identity safe, feeling free to disclose their inner stresses knowing they can do so safely and without consequences, and to another student in a similar position who may have a greater understanding of what it feels like. As the service is also online, this can act as a very convenient way to help students reach out as they don’t need to make an appointment. They only log in online and await a listener to be free. We additionally wish to lower stress and improve coping mechanisms through educating our students. Lean On Me will also include a content page on stress relief and external sign posting to help make students aware of how they can either self-help, or find an opportunity to get help elsewhere. There are many benefits of talking including reliable improvement pre/post intervention for counselling for 3/4 of clients (Mellor-Clark et al., 2001), and for the listener doing good benefits mental health as much as receiving good (Howey & Ormond, 2002). All volunteers will have to undergo an Access NI and pay insurance before becoming a member. Once online they will have continuous support and the website will be continuously monitored to ensure policy requirements are kept.
... [more] [less]The charity’s classifications
- The relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage
Who the charity helps
- Adult training
- General public
- Mental health
- Voluntary and community sector
- Youth (14-25 year olds)
How the charity works
- Community development
- Counselling/support
- Education/training
- Research/evaluation
- Volunteer development
- Welfare/benevolent
- Youth development
Charitable purposes
To advance in life and help young people through providing emotional support and activities which develop their skills, capacities and capabilities to enable them to participate in society as mature and responsible individuals.