The Pilot Project

Overview

The Livingwell Digitally 2 project led by MySelf-Management ran from October 2022 to October 2023, funded by the Self Management Fund which is administered by the Health and Social Care Alliance. During the project regular meetings took place with the MySelf-Management stakeholder group to discuss the project plans, youth sessions and website design.

Youth Projects Involved

Caithness Klics – young carer organisation, meeting at their premises in Wick.
Wick 6th Brownies & Guides
Caithness Community Connections – meeting with their youth club in Thrumster.

Youth Sessions

The importance of wellbeing

A conversation around the importance of looking after our physical and mental wellbeing daily and how we can do this. We talked about what and who can help us to stay healthy. Any negative impacts on our lives and how to deal with them. Digital use, awareness of online safety and their feedback around digital ideas for the project. Wellbeing bags were distributed at this session.

The importance of good food

We enjoyed a snack of Greek yoghurt with blueberries, oatcakes with guacamole and dark chocolate, all high in antioxidants. We talked through foods that are good for us and foods that are bad. Everyone shared what their favourite meals were.

Distraction and relaxation techniques

A conversation about why distraction and relaxation techniques can be useful to help keep us grounded and deal with anxious or difficult situations. As a group we tried the 5,4,3,2,1 technique and everyone was given a copy of it to take away. Then we finished in a relaxed position for a guided meditation script. We talked through everyone’s favourite ways to relax and any digital tools they have found to help.

Digital safety

Mhor Collective led this session with an online quiz around digital safety. We talked about various apps they regularly use like Snapchat, Tik Tok and Instagram and how to keep yourself safe while using them.

Vision boards

We used old magazines to produce a positive vision board of our favourite things. We talked about how it is good to keep ourselves mindful.

Website

During our sessions it was decided to design a one stop shop for youths in Highland for wellbeing and digital information website. It was important for the youths to

Make it for all youths in Highland
Make it easy to read and knowledgeable
Make it full of information that we talked about in our sessions
Make it honest
Make it inclusive
Make it one stop shop for youths
Make it interesting
Make it true

Intergenerational Sessions

Following a summer break MySelf-Management group members joined the final 2 sessions to take an intergenerational approach.

Hobbies and digital interests

We took part in some activities together, such as pool, darts, crafting, playing cards and had a conversation around digital interests between the intergenerational age gaps.

Intergenerational food

We enjoyed a meal together to celebrate the end of the project and to talk about each others' food likes and dislikes