Youth worker stars in BBC Children in Need campaign

Dylan Mosengo said youth clubs were a "second home" when he was growing up

The star of a BBC Children in Need film aimed at improving young people's mental health has spoken of the vital role played by youth clubs.

Dylan Mosengo, who works at the CIN-backed ReflecTeen project in the Moston area of Manchester, said youth clubs were a "second home" to him when he was growing up.

The centre offers wellbeing sessions that "empower kids from six to 20" and is a safe place for them to offload any concerns and receive support.

Dylan, 26, said he enjoyed helping others so much there that it led to him becoming a youth worker.

Dylan Mosengo says ReflecTeen empowers kids from ages six to 20

Children in Need has launched a campaign, called The Heaviest Backpack, which highlights the fact that many children "carry the weight of the world" around with them.

The charity hopes it will spark nationwide conversation to ensure no child faces their emotional and mental health challenges alone.

One-in-five children in the UK faces a mental health issue, according to CIN.

It pointed to a survey of more than 2,500 parents and as many children and young people.

It found 44% of children and young people compared the weight of the worries they carried to books, whilst 16% said it was like carrying bricks.

The top five reasons behind the worries children and young people surveyed were:

• Doing well at school/college/university or other educational institution – 37%

• Losing someone they love – 30%

• Their appearance/body image – 30%

• Achieving their goals – 27%

• Fitting in – 27%

Dylan said ReflecTeen, which was set up in 2017, offers well-being and mentoring sessions as well as providing food, care and a host of sporting and educational facilities.

He said youngsters loved the "safe place" so much "they don't want to leave".

"They come here with a sad face and leave with a smiley face," Dyland added.

Joshua said the project was "good for my mental health" and had boosted his confidence

Joshua said he loved going to ReflecTeen because "it’s really fun".

He added: "It's good for my mental health because you get to go outside and you get to socialise, so there is a bit of everything."

The 17-year-old said the project had also boosted his confidence.

"I’ve experienced my fair share of struggles," he explained. "I’ve been through it in schools and outside of schools.

"It’s a part of life.

"You have ups and downs and [you] just got to get back up and make sure that you can do better as a person and be the best you can to other people."

Samson (left) and Joshua said they loved going to ReflecTeen

Meanwhile, Samson said he could "unwind" and "have some freedom" at the project.

"ReflecTeen helps me a lot with dealing with my anxiety and getting pressure off my back because my home life isn’t really the best any more.

"I have a lot pressure put on to me," the 17-year-old said, adding the project "really does relieve me of a lot of stress".

And Joshua, also 17, said he loved taking parts in sporting and other activities at the centre.

He said it was "very good for my mental health" and knew that if he had "any troubles" there were "so many great staff here to help me out".