Million Minds tour heads to SkillsCymru, Wales’ largest careers fair

Wales’ largest careers fair, SkillsCymru, is to host the Million Minds tour for its first visit to Wales.

The tour, which aims to help young people cope with the challenges that life presents, will bring together up and coming artists and speakers to deliver a lesson to young people about mental health.

One in eight young people aged 5-19 experience mental ill health, of whom 65% get no professional help; 75% of adult mental health problems are established by by age 24. Million Minds encourages individuals to take responsibility for their mental wellbeing and become more resilient in day-to-day challenges.

Three headline acts will be delivering the Million Minds lesson at SkillsCymru: Jamala Osman, rap artist and TedX speaker Dame Til Wykes, Professor of Clinical Psychology and Rehabilitation at King’s College London.

The lesson will be delivered at SkillsCymru in Cardiff where more than 8,000 young people, graduates and job seekers are expected to attend.

The free event will take place on 9 and 10 October at Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff and on 16 and 17 October at Venue Cymru, Llandudno.

This year there will also be a Skills Theatre and Get Skilled Stands to help visitors experience the skills needed for various careers and to showcase a wide range of industries in Wales.

The Skills Theatre is sponsored by Cardiff and Vale College and will show a range of demonstrations including a sports fitness rugby academy, performing arts demonstrations, theatrical make up displays and musical performances by sponsors Cardiff and Vale College.

The careers fair includes employers from a variety of sectors including AirbusUK, The Cake Crew and Welsh Water.

Parents and guardians of people aged between 14 and 24 are also invited to a parents’ evening on the 9^th Oct, 4pm to 6:30pm, in Cardiff and 16^th October, 5pm to 7pm in Llandudno to receive advice and discover the career options available for their children.

Jamala Osman, co-founder at Million Minds Tour said: “Recently we have seen an increase in mental health problems amongst young people and a decrease in the ability of young people to cope with stress, adapt to difficult situations and learn to cope with emotions.

“Everyone who attends our interactive lesson at SkillsCymru will also be given access to our Boost App, developed by The Resilience Project, which uses smart phone technology to provide instant help and guided support to those that need it.

“SkillsCymru is the perfect place to reach these young people and spread our knowledge and expertise to a wider audience to help young people develop positive mental health.”

Minister for Economy and Transport, Ken Skates said “Being able to host the Million Minds Tour at this year’s SkillsCymru is a great addition to the event.

“My own experiences of dealing with mental health matters around anxiety have helped me realise how important it is to be open about such issues and teach coping techniques to younger people who may be feeling pressured at this stage of their life.

“Nobody should ever feel ashamed of talking about mental illness and the more we share experiences, the less stigma will be attached.

“SkillsCymru is a great event to reach a younger audience with this important topic while also inspiring the next generation of workers to explore what career and vocational routes are available to them.”

SkillsCymru is a free annual event and is supported by the Welsh Government and the European Social Fund to promote skills in Wales and inspire young people to explore the different vocational routes and future career options available to them.

For more information about SkillsCymru, visit www.skillscymru.co.uk

Taith Million Minds yn ymweld â SkillsCymru – ffair yrfaoedd fwya’r wlad

Mae ffair yrfaoedd fwya’r wlad, SkillsCymru, yn croesawu taith Million Minds i Gymru am y tro cyntaf.

Nod y daith yw helpu pobl ifanc i ymdopi â heriau bywyd, a bydd artistiaid a siaradwyr newydd yn cyflwyno gwers i bobl ifanc am iechyd meddwl.

Er bod 1 o bob 8 o bobl ifanc 5-19 oed yn profi salwch meddwl, dyw 65% ohonyn nhw ddim yn cael unrhyw gymorth proffesiynol; ac mae 75% o broblemau iechyd meddwl oedolion wedi ymwreiddio erbyn iddyn nhw fod yn 24 oed. Mae Million Minds yn annog unigolion i ysgwyddo’r cyfrifoldeb am eu lles meddyliol a dysgu sut i ymdopi’n well gyda heriau bob dydd.

Y tri phrif westai fydd yn cyflwyno gwers Million Minds yn SkillsCymru fydd: y rapiwr Jamala Osman a’r siaradwr TedX y Fonesig Til Wykes, Athro Seicoleg Clinigol ac Adsefydlu King’s College Llundain.

Cyflwynir y wers n SkillsCymru Caerdydd, a fydd yn denu 8,000 a mwy o bobl ifanc, graddedigion a rhai sy’n chwilio am swyddi.

Cynhelir y digwyddiad am ddim ar 9 a 10 Hydref yn Arena Motorpoint y brifddinas, ac yna ar 16 ac 17 Hydref yn Venue Cymru, Llandudno.

Bydd y ffair eleni’n cynnwys Theatr Sgiliau a Stondinau Mynnu Sgiliau er mwyn helpu ymwelwyr i brofi’r sgiliau sydd eu hangen ar gyfer gyrfaoedd amrywiol a rhoi llwyfan i’r ystod eang o ddiwydiannau sydd ar gael yma yng Nghymru.

Noddir y Theatr Sgiliau gan Goleg Caerdydd a’r Fro a fydd yn cynnal sawl arddangosiad gan gynnwys academi rygbi ffitrwydd chwaraeon, arddangosiadau celfyddydau perfformio, arddangosfeydd coluro ar gyfer y theatr a pherfformiadau cerddorol gan y noddwyr, Coleg Caerdydd a’r Fro.

Mae’r ffair yrfaoedd yn cynnwys cyflogwyr o bob math o sectorau gwahanol fel AirbusUK, The Cake Crew a Dŵr Cymru.

Rydym hefyd yn estyn croeso i rieni a gwarcheidwaid pobl ifanc rhwng 14 a 24 oed i noson rieni ar 9 Hydref, 4-6.30pm, yng Nghaerdydd, ac ar 16 Hydref, 5-7pm yn Llandudno, er mwyn cael cyngor a dysgu mwy am y dewisiadau gyrfaol sydd ar gael i’w plant.

Meddai Jamala Osman, cyd-sylfaenydd taith Million Minds: “Rydym wedi gweld cynnydd mewn problemau iechyd meddwl ymhlith pobl ifanc yn ddiweddar, a’r ffaith fod llai o bobl ifanc yn gallu ymdopi â straen, addasu i sefyllfaoedd anodd a dysgu sut i ddelio â’u hemosiynau.

“Bydd pawb sy’n dod i’n gwersi rhyngweithiol yn SkillsCymru yn gallu defnyddio ein ‘Boost App’, a ddatblygwyd gan The Resilience Project, sy’n defnyddio technoleg ffôn clyfar i ddarparu cymorth uniongyrchol a chefnogaeth dan arweiniad i rai sydd angen hynny.

“SkillsCymru yw’r lle perffaith i ymestyn at y bobl ifanc hyn a rhannu ein gwybodaeth a’n harbenigedd â’r gynulleidfa ehangach er mwyn helpu pobl ifanc i feithrin iechyd meddwl cadarnhaol.”

Dywedodd Ken Skates, Gweinidog yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth fod “croesawu taith Million Minds yn SkillsCymru eleni yn ychwanegiad gwych at y digwyddiad.

“Mae fy mhrofiadau personol innau o ymdrin â phroblemau iechyd meddwl a gorbryder wedi fy helpu i sylweddoli pa mor bwysig yw trafod materion o’r fath yn agored ac addysgu technegau ymdopi i bobl ifanc sydd efallai’n teimlo dan bwysau yn y cyfnod hwn mewn bywyd.

“Ddylai neb fyth deimlo cywilydd o siarad am salwch meddwl, a pho fwyaf ohonom sy’n rhannu profiadau, po leiaf o stigma fydd yna.

“Mae SkillsCymru yn ddigwyddiad gwych i gyrraedd cynulleidfaoedd iau gyda’r pwnc pwysig hwn yn ogystal ag ysbrydoli’r genhedlaeth nesaf o weithwyr i archwilio pa lwybrau gyrfaol a galwedigaethol sydd ar gael iddyn nhw.”

Mae SkillsCymru yn ddigwyddiad blynyddol, am ddim, sy’n cael cefnogaeth gan Lywodraeth Cymru a Chronfa Gymdeithasol Ewrop er mwyn hybu a hyrwyddo sgiliau yng Nghymru ac ysbrydoli pobl ifanc i archwilio’r llwybrau galwedigaethol gwahanol a dewisiadau gyrfa’r dyfodol sydd ar gael iddynt.

Rhagor o wybodaeth yn www.skillscymru.co.uk