A space to be me: Young Changemakers tackling racial inequalities in Black young people’s mental health
Published on 18 February, 2026.
England's mental health crisis among children and young people is severe, with one in five experiencing mental health issues, a significant increase from previous years. Black children and young people face compounded challenges such as poverty, over-policing, and inadequate mental health service access. The Young Changemakers programme, a three-year initiative launched in August 2021 and funded by the People’s Postcode Lottery and Comic Relief, represents a pioneering effort by UK Youth, The Diana Award, and Centre for Mental Health to reimagine mental health support for young people from Black communities. By collaborating with young people aged 14 to 25 and youth workers across England, the programme provided the tools and resources needed to develop youthled social action projects addressing mental health inequalities, with a specific focus on those impacting Black young people. This report consolidates three years of data and insights from the Young Changemakers programme, incorporating findings from both a comprehensive evaluation and primary research conducted with young Black people in 2023. It draws on feedback from programme participants and youth workers to offer a deeper understanding of the mental health landscape for young Black people. Our research with young Black people identified several barriers to having their mental health needs recognised and effectively addressed. These include: A lack of understanding about mental health concerns: Young Black people often lack adequate information about mental health, exacerbated by stigma and poor education about the impacts of racism Barriers to support: Key barriers include systemic racism, lack of culturally sensitive services, and limited access to early intervention services Cultural sensitivity: There is a strong demand for mental health professionals from similar cultural and racial backgrounds and for services that respect and understand young people’s experiences, values and beliefs Stigma and discrimination: Mental health stigma and discrimination, particularly within the Black community, hampers help-seeking and exacerbates mental health issues.