Dani's dream of helping young Fifers with mental health

Dani Brooks, who was born and brought up in the city, has been battling her own mental health problems for over 20 years and is now looking to establish a sing and dance group, with the ultimate aim of creating a youth centre.

She explained: "I have been dealing with my own mental health problems for gong on 22 years. Basically looking back to when I was first diagnosed to now, there were no resources available then.

"There were no group you could go to where there were kids who were experiencing the same. It was medication, leaflets and a few kind words and you were sent on your way.

Dani Brooks who is hoping to set up a group to help young people suffering from mental health problems. (Image: Contributed)

"For me, I fully believe if I had had something like this when I was first diagnosed, it would have been beneficial for my family as well as me. It would have helped me know why I was feeling the way I was. That is something that was never explained unfortunately."

Dani is currently putting the wheels in motion to get a sing and dance group for people with mental health issues in Kirkcaldy and she hopes to attract young people from across the Kingdom.

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Once she gets these plans underway, she hopes a youth centre – and a respite centre – could then be the next step in her quest to help.

"I started thinking about opening the centre and things and, after putting posts on Facebook, I was getting a lot of great feedback. It is Dunfermline, Glenrothes, Kirkcaldy, all different areas and villages. They think it is a fantastic idea and it is clearly something that is much needed. Just even a space to come for a couple of hours.

"I have scaled back a little bit so instead of going straight for the youth centre itself, I am going to start with a sing and dance group.

"I know I have a long way to go, especially when it comes to funding. If we don't start making some sort of change in the way that we help the younger generations, I genuinely fear what it is going to be like further down the line.

"We have got teenagers running about the streets. They are bored and there is nothing for them to do. The centre would come in and they could come and play pool and football, dance, sing, and get involved in art.

"At the moment I am still at the very early stages of this."

She said places like the St Andrew's Erskine church would be an location to host a youth centre initiative.

"I grew up in Dunfermline and I remember when it was the Magic Kingdom. Now, when walking in Kirkcaldy, there are buildings that are empty, it is exactly the same. They could be used for something like this.

"I have worked out a five-year plan and I am hoping that by the end of the fifth year, I will have at least one centre open.

"It is not just about mental health. It is about giving young people a purpose, somewhere they can come and chill for a bit."

Anyone interested in getting involved with Dani's work can contact her by emailing danibrooks2489@gmail.com.