Verbal wins OSC grant for social media resilience project

In a significant boost to youth mental health initiatives, Verbal, a charity based in Londonderry and working across the island of Ireland, dedicated to improving wellbeing through storytelling, has secured £25k funding from the Open Societal Challenges (OSC) grant for their innovative project, "Beyond ‘Liking’ or ‘Not Liking’: Co-Created Stories for Social Media Resilience."

The project addresses the pressing issue of social media's impact on young people’s mental wellbeing. Research indicates that exposure to idealised content on social media can harm self-esteem, body image, and mental health, with 95% of young people engaging with these platforms by age 15. Verbal’s initiative seeks to combat these effects by fostering resilience through shared storytelling and co-creation.

Working in collaboration with The Open University (OU), the project unites experts in youth wellbeing, digital media, and storytelling to develop a two-phase intervention. In the first phase, consultations with schools and community groups will identify key themes and delivery methods. These insights will shape a six-week shared reading intervention, co-designed with young people to ensure relevance and authenticity.

The second phase involves piloting the intervention, gathering feedback, and measuring its impact on participants’ wellbeing. Testimonials and experiences will be captured to inform future initiatives, with outputs ranging from reports and academic publications to creative digital content. The findings will also be shared through events and platforms like the OU’s OpenLearn.

“This funding empowers us to give young people a voice in tackling the challenges of social media,” said James Kerr, Chief Executive at Verbal. “Our goal is to equip them with tools to navigate these spaces with confidence and resilience.”

The project, which runs from January 2025 to July 2026, aims to foster social unity and improve wellbeing in Northern Ireland, where youth face disproportionately high rates of mental health challenges. By combining innovative storytelling techniques with community engagement, Verbal’s initiative is poised to make a lasting impact on young lives, paving the way for future interventions to support digital wellbeing globally.