A STAND-UP comedy course, focusing on wellbeing and mental health, is set to launch at the end of the month with a live show scheduled for The Citadel theatre.

Is It Just Me, which will run for eight weeks from Wednesday, July 28, is part of The Standing Tall Foundation’s drive to support the local community following the Covid-19 pandemic.

The course was created by volunteer Nichola Moorcroft and is aimed at helping young people and adults who may been felt lonely or isolated during the past 16 months having been separated from their family and friends.

The course will be run by Nichola together with stand-up comedian Dave Twentyman, who will be lead coach, and Phil Parr, a trained psychologist, gearing up to a live performance on stage.

It will give participants the chance to talk about issues they face on a daily basis, which can often prove a rich source on which to base comedy, and encourage them to build friendships as they support each other and try new things.

Organisers will offer two courses – one for youngsters aged between 15 and 21, which is free of charge, and one for the over 21s, which is £5 per session.

Nichola, who is head of education at the foundation, which was founded by war veteran Andy Reid, said: “I originally wrote this programme with the idea of helping young people after the pandemic, who may have been isolated from their friendship groups and society, resulting in poor mental health and wellbeing.

“Very often young people are masters at masking their true feelings; instead all too often they fall into the trap of enhancing and embroidering their online social media profiles to counteract their authentic feelings.

“This sometimes makes it very difficult for friends and family to pick up on these feelings of despair and inadequacy due to the idyllic online world they have created for the outside world to see, when the reality is often quite the opposite.

Young people often compare their lives and themselves not only to their peers, but also media celebrities and influencers which results in poor self-esteem and low-confidence, to name but a few. This programme allows young people to make friends with their true identities and reveal their true authentic selves and embrace, take ownership and pride in being the amazing, real, wonderful and funny individuals they truly are.”

The workshops will teach young people the art of professional delivery such as tone of voice, the power of the pause and body language, stimulating personal development, confidence and empowerment as well as public speaking, resilience and improved self esteem.

Each person will work towards a five minute final routine to be performed on stage in front of an audience at The Citadel Theatre in St Helens.

For more information or to book a place on the course email nic@standingtallfoundation.org.uk