Katrina Mcilmail

Senior Programme Executive
OUR Generation Project

Well where do I start. A typical day for me is very busy and never predictable which I absolutely love. I manage the OUR Generation project for Cooperation Ireland as one of 9 Project partners on this collaborative Youth Mental Health project. My role involves building capacity of Youth facing professionals by coordinating online and in person training that will support them in their roles. Through these Cross border trainings I get to meet the most inspirational people who are working hard to create change for children and young people in Northern Ireland and the 6 border counties of Republic of Ireland. So far I have had the privilege of collaborating with experts in the field of Trauma Dr Karen Triesman, Anxiety Expert Owen O’Kane, Psychologist Shane Martin, Teen Psychotherapist Richard Hogan and many many more.

I also work with groups to design bespoke programmes for marginalised groups of children and young people. This allows me to utilise my love of community every day by working with Community & Voluntary sector groups who support Young Carers, Neurodivergent young people, those with disabilities, LGBTQ youth, refugee and asylum seeking young people. The aim is to develop leadership skills, mental health literacy and remove barriers to participation in the project.

So today what am I up to. I start off with a coffee at home check the old emails before meeting with a facilitator who will be delivering sessions to young people as part of the project over the next 4 weeks. We discuss the session plans, registration process and the needs of the groups. Check in with my team and then start filling the car with my overnight bag, pop up and promotional material for my Project Engagement event in Sligo. It’s a bit of a drive but ‘Heart 80s’ on the radio will keep me going on my journey. Belting out a bit of Prince or Fleetwood Mac is good for my mental health!

I call with some primary and secondary schools in the area to share some OUR Generation Literature and of course my contact number!

I am headed for the Yeats Society in Sligo town and I am not disappointed by this beautiful building the perfect venue for me to chat to groups and individuals who want to find out how they can get involved in the OUR Generation project.

‘And I shall have some there peace there, for peace comes dropping slow’ was one of the many quotes that are beautifully written on the walls in gold paint. It jumped out to me as very poignant in my work in Cooperation Ireland. I am helped by the lovely Marie who tells me the history of the building as I set up. It’s a full house which I am delighted by – so we share information on our respective roles, projects and enthusiasm for supporting children and young peoples mental health and wellbeing. The key themes come up time and time again in these conversations – digital safety, increased anxiety, school avoidance, vaping. All of these emerging themes inform the content of the training that the OUR Generation team provides.

Over tea (the tea pot had a knitted tea cosy! Havent seen one of those in years!) coffee and biscuits strangers become friends and I leave with excitement for what I can bring to the project in the Sligo area.

I phone some suppliers for upcoming programme delivery – residential centres, Leadership experts, a local Youth club, A bus company and take a quick call from a catering company who would like paid.

On the way home I stop with an organisation in Enniskillen who are interested in pairing a group of young people age 18 to 24 with another similar group in Sligo. I will work with both groups to gradually introduce them to each other addressing the needs of the group and hopefully building life long friendships and connections.