A youth group will set up an obstacle course in a Moray park to represent the breaking through of mental barriers with hurdling physical obstacles.
The Warehouse, which was formerly known as Elgin Youth Cafe, is preparing an array of inflatables to raise awareness of mental health among children.
It is estimated that three youngsters in an average classroom are currently living with a hidden condition that can often go untreated.
Now the Moray campaigners want to shine a light on their struggles by backing charity MQ.
Teenagers who regularly attend The Warehouse have devised and created the weekend event to make their peers “feel bright” on the inside.
Youth worker Beth Oxley said: “The focus is going to be all on fun and not fitness. We hope to encourage everyone who takes part to literally break through their own barriers whatever they are – lack of confidence, motivation, low mood or depression.
“The young people who have organised this are very aware of the struggles that people their age have with mental health. They want to find the brightness and block out the haters.
“Their hope is that individuals, families and teams will turn up to support each other.”
Children who attend the Elgin group have devised the event as part of their celebrations of Scotland’s year of young people.
The youthful organisers have been designing and creating their own super hero capes for the event as well as props to hang from the trees in the park.
Tonight (FRI) youth workers at the Warehouse will also be cooking up a motivational meal ahead of the event.
Donna Breen said: “We’ve been working with the young people on dishes that tie in with different themes – like super hero cape wrap. We want to break down barriers about healthy eating too.
“One of them had me in stitches last week when she bit into a beetroot brownie – she suggested just putting all vegetables in brownies to get young people to eat more of them.”
The event will run in Elgin’s Cooper Park on tomorrow (SAT) from 2pm to 4pm.
