Community teams, football foundations, sports coaches and youth mentors often build trusted relationships with young people in spaces where support looks different.
Young people may open up during a coaching session, mentoring conversation, community programme or informal check-in. For some, a coach, youth worker or community activator may be one of the adults they feel safest talking to.
Youth Mental Health First Aid gives youth-facing staff a practical framework for noticing when a young person may be struggling, responding calmly and appropriately, and knowing when to connect them into safeguarding or specialist support.
Many young people spend time with adults outside the classroom who have a significant influence on their confidence, wellbeing and sense of belonging.
These adults are often well placed to notice changes in behaviour, mood, attendance, motivation or relationships. Youth MHFA helps staff and volunteers feel more confident in those moments — not by turning them into therapists, but by giving them a clear, safe and practical way to respond.
This training may be suitable for football foundation staff, community coaches, targeted youth workers, youth activators, mentors, outreach workers, safeguarding and welfare leads, academy/player care staff, sports development teams, holiday activity staff and voluntary or community organisations working with young people.
If your team works directly with young people, Youth MHFA can help strengthen confidence, consistency and role clarity.
Youth MHFA training supports staff to recognise early signs that a young person may be struggling, feel more confident starting supportive conversations, listen without jumping in too quickly to fix, understand common mental health challenges, respond appropriately to distress or crisis, and connect young people into safeguarding or specialist support where needed.
It also supports staff to think about boundaries, their role, and how to look after themselves when supporting others.
Many coaches, mentors and community workers already provide emotional support as part of their everyday role, even if that is not always formally named.
Youth MHFA helps staff understand what their role is — and what it is not.
The aim is not to diagnose, counsel or provide ongoing mental health intervention. The aim is to help trusted adults notice, listen, reassure, respond safely and guide a young person towards the right support.
I offer a range of Youth MHFA training options depending on your team’s needs, availability and existing experience.
Youth Mental Health First Aid
A full course for staff who work closely with young people and may be part of early support, safeguarding, mentoring or targeted intervention.
Youth MHFA Refresher
A half-day course for existing Youth Mental Health First Aiders who want to renew their knowledge, confidence and skills.
Youth MHFA Champion / One-day training
A shorter option for teams who want to build awareness and confidence across a wider group of staff.
Tailored introductory sessions
Bespoke sessions can also be developed for community teams who want to explore youth mental health, trusted adult conversations, role boundaries and signposting.
Inclusive Minds Network supports organisations to build confidence around youth mental health in a way that feels practical, human and connected to real working roles.
My work is grounded in experience across education, safeguarding, wellbeing, change and youth mental health training. I understand that staff often want to do the right thing, but can feel unsure about what to say, how much to hold, or where their responsibility ends.
The focus is on helping adults feel more confident, capable and prepared — while keeping support safe, boundaried and connected to wider systems.
If your organisation works with young people through sport, mentoring, outreach or community programmes, I’d be happy to talk through what level of Youth MHFA training may be the best fit.
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