Every young person deserves the chance to lead a full, healthy, and happy life – yet for many young males, that is only a distant dream. Across our communities, boys and young men are struggling with their mental health, often in silence. Many feel overwhelmed, isolated, and unsure of where to turn. Without the right support, these challenges can lead to emotional distress, disengagement from education, and behaviours that put them at risk—including violence and anti-social activity.

They’re waiting—for someone to ask “how can I help?”, for someone to take their needs seriously. But what they often find is silence. Long waiting lists, overstretched services, and unclear pathways to support leave many feeling hopeless. When they finally reach out, they’re met with “we have no appointments right now—we’ll be in touch.” For some, that delay is devastating.

This is where The Mental Shift CIC steps in. We provide early, consistent support for young males who are struggling—not just with mental health, but with identity, belonging, and the pressures of growing up in environments that don’t always understand them. Our services offer safe spaces, trusted relationships, and practical tools to help young people feel seen, supported, and empowered to move forward.

Meet Lewis, one of our first ever service users who was a part of our ‘Lives, Not Knives’ program funded by the Northumbria Police Crime Commissioner. When Lewis started working with us, he started going down the wrong path and was getting into trouble regularly – after just 1-month, Lewis made a drastic change and began changing his life around for the better. After the full 3-month program, Lewis was a completely different lad and has purpose and desire in his life. We worked with Lewis for 9-months in total and we are so happy to be able to help him through the benefits of Muay Thai.