The SNG #iwill Fund 2.0 – Wellbeing & Social Action Festivals
Wellbeing & Social Action Festivals create a space for networking, community connection, mental health and wellbeing awareness and employability and career support in SNG communities.
Planning to hold a total of twelve festivals by the end of 2026, we’ve already delivered our first two as pilots which have helped us prepare to deliver five more this year, with the view to hold a further five in 2026.
Each festival is led and shaped by Wellbeing Champions from our funded projects and other young people in the area alongside young SNG customers and feature guest speakers, wellbeing activities, stalls, arts and role models to spread awareness of wellbeing and social action and the benefits.
All festivals are completely free to attend for local young people aged 10-20 and their families, whether they are from SNG homes or not, and feature free food, activities, support and merchandise. We’re aiming for young people to leave inspired by the skills, knowledge and opportunities to continue their wellbeing and social action journey beyond the event.
For any queries relating to our Wellbeing & Social Action Festivals, please email us at iwillfund@sng.org.uk.
Find out more about our first two festivals in 2024, and our plans for our next five this year below.
Find out more about each festival
Our first festival took place in the Summer holidays at Network Ryde Youth Service, St Thomas’ Square, Ryde, IW, PO33 2PJ on Friday 16 August 2024 from 2pm-6pm.
Having received positive feedback from young people, their families and local organisations, we’re pleased to report that our first festival was a huge success!
We had 53 young people from SNG communities engaged in the planning of the event, through survey responses and online meetings. The day was centred around the NHS’ 5 Steps to Wellbeing 
and featured mental health signposting support through arts therapy, localised support and services, themed wordsearches and activity sheets, musical performances, mindfulness activities, a sensory chill room, creative activities, chats with our Youth Panel about their experiences, games and lots more.
We also had 5 community partners join us, including local youth groups and services, a cookery academy and a face/body painter and we facilitated interactive and informative stalls on the SNG #iwill Fund, Social Impact, Employment and Skills, Youth Social Action, SNG’s Community Investment Offer, and The Foyer. Two of our Youth Panel members led on their own Youth Engagement stall with themed flowerpot and t-shirt decorating.
Feedback from the day includes "Being part of the Wellbeing & Social Action Festival was such a wonderful experience!” and "My kids go to school here, but we have all learnt something new."
Emily Morris, SNG Youth Panel member who led her own Youth Engagement stall with a fellow panel member, said “Proud to be part of the first Wellbeing and Youth Social Action Festival that happened in Ryde, Isle of Wight, which is excitingly the first of many. I met so many amazing young people and shared so much about the #iwill movement and the SNG Youth Panel.”
Please see below some photos of the day:
Michele from the Four Seasons Cookery Academy, Isle of Wight leading her interactive Cooking Workshop activity.
Emily Morris, Youth Panel Member, engaging in conversation while leading her interactive #iwill and Youth Engagement stall.
Young people decorating T-Shirt’s, encouraged to design something that makes them happy.
Keep an eye out for our highlights of the day video which we will share soon!
Our second festival took place in October half term at Manadon Sports and Community Hub, 121 St Peters Road, Plymouth, PL5 3FD on Wednesday 30 October 2024 from 12pm-4pm.
Our second festival was another success! We received a variety of positive feedback as well as suggestions to implement within future festivals from young people, their families and local organisations both on the day and through an online feedback form.
We had 59 young people from SNG communities engaged in the planning of the event, through survey responses and online meetings. The day was centred around the NHS’ 5 Steps to Wellbeing and featured mental health signposting support through arts and craft activities, localised support and services, themed wordsearches and activity sheets, memory bracelet making, mindfulness activities, wellbeing pledges, plant pot-painting, themed video editing activities, chats with our Youth Panel about their experiences, games and lots more.
We also had 6 community partners join us, including local youth groups and services, an arts organisation and a face/body painter and we facilitated interactive and informative stalls on the SNG #iwill Fund, Social Impact, Employment and Skills, Youth Social Action, and SNG’s Community Investment Offer. One of our Youth Panel members led on their own Youth Engagement stall with themed t-shirt decorating.
Feedback from the day includes “people were amazing, activities were so much fun” and “Plymouth's Wellbeing & Social Action Festival was a great opportunity to connect with the community and share ideas on wellbeing. It was a privilege to be a part of it.”
Doaa Shayea, SNG Youth Panel member who led her own Youth Engagement stall, said “'Plymouth's Wellbeing & Social Action Festival was a great opportunity to connect with the community and share ideas on wellbeing. It was a privilege to be a part of it!’ and “I really enjoyed being part of the festival—it was a fantastic event, and it was wonderful to engage with so many people.”
Please see below some photos of the day:
Young people and Ellie, SNG #iwill Fund Project Officer, with their decorated t-shirts
Young person engaging with our SNG stress ball
Young people receiving support from Lynn, SNG’s local Employment and Skills Coach.
We’re planning to hold a festival in Oxfordshire this year in the Summer holidays and are currently looking for a partner to lead on helping us deliver the event.
Do you want to get involved?
If you are a young person aged 10-25 and would like to be involved in helping us plan this event, or a local organisation who would like to be involved in this event either by partnering with us to lead on the delivery or through facilitating your own activity or stall, please email us at iwillfund@sng.org.uk.
We’re planning to hold a festival in Newbury or Reading this year in the Summer holidays and are currently looking for a partner to lead on helping us deliver the event.
Do you want to get involved?
If you are a young person aged 10-25 and would like to be involved in helping us plan this event, or a local organisation who would like to be involved in this event either by partnering with us to lead on the delivery or through facilitating your own activity or stall, please email us at iwillfund@sng.org.uk.
We’re planning to hold a festival in Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole this year in the Summer holidays and are currently looking for a partner to lead on helping us deliver the event.
Do you want to get involved?
If you are a young person aged 10-25 and would like to be involved in helping us plan this event, or a local organisation who would like to be involved in this event either by partnering with us to lead on the delivery or through facilitating your own activity or stall, please email us at iwillfund@sng.org.uk.
We’re planning to hold a festival in Dorset this year in the Summer holidays and are currently looking for a partner to lead on helping us deliver the event.
Do you want to get involved?
If you are a young person aged 10-25 and would like to be involved in helping us plan this event, or a local organisation who would like to be involved in this event either by partnering with us to lead on the delivery or through facilitating your own activity or stall, please email us at iwillfund@sng.org.uk.
We’re planning to hold a festival in London this year in the Summer holidays and are currently looking for a partner to lead on helping us deliver the event.
Do you want to get involved?
If you are a young person aged 10-25 and would like to be involved in helping us plan this event, or a local organisation who would like to be involved in this event either by partnering with us to lead on the delivery or through facilitating your own activity or stall, please email us at iwillfund@sng.org.uk.
Find out more about the SNG #iwill Fund
