<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>When it comes to looking after the mental health of our participants, we circled back to the discussion on the social work elements of running skateboarding programs, especially with vulnerable youth. We discussed how the complexities of our work should demand that we complete external training on how to work with young people who may be experiencing mental health issues. On top of that, how important it is to know your strengths and abilities; that you cannot always be the one to provide direct support, but to know how to flag up certain situations or to refer people to the appropriate services.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Sophie’s workshop on Self-Care for Skate Facilitators was a great reminder that we also need to look after ourselves in order to run effective programs and sustainable organizations. It was a great reminder of just how effective active listening can be, as well as simply being there for people and checking-in with each other. We can use these simple skills everyday and they can make a huge difference for others – to feel seen, heard and listened to – and for ourselves.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
