Tag Archives: mental health

Children and Young People’s Mental Health Webinar

23rd July 2020

Hidden In Plain Sight
Webinar Series

Children and Young People's Mental Health

Our Children and Young People’s Mental Health Webinar

was the second of our Hidden in Plain Sight Webinars that bring together local people and voluntary sector experts to share the insights from organisations that are now facing a surge in demand for their services.

What we heard

‘Surrey Stats’

1 in 8 children and young people have a diagnosable mental health condition such as depression or anxiety. [1]

Nearly half of 17-19 year olds with a diagnosable mental health disorder has self-harmed or attempted suicide at some point. [2]

Of the 185,000 5-16 years olds in Surrey, this equates to over 23,000 children and young people needing help and support locally. [3]

If the Children’s Commissioner is correct – that only 1 in 4 of those are referred for clinical support, that leaves 75% (over 17,000) of Surrey children needing to look elsewhere for support. [4]

 

Accessible, specialist services embedded in the community are fundamental to ensuring that children and young people can seek the support that they need, and elevate pressures on other services that have had to cut back on youth provision or had to focus resources on the highest clinical need. 

Finding social solutions and early intervention support is more cost effective and less visible as “treatment” and therefore often less stigmatised. Often young people do not want to be associated with a clinical problem. 

In Surrey, voluntary sector organisations are coming together to address this added pressure for services across the county.

The Surrey Wellbeing Partnership has formed to create a framework for voluntary sector collaboration, with the purpose to deliver community and school-based support for young people which focuses on supportive and ongoing relationships to provide consistency and stability for children. 

The Community Foundation for Surrey is a long-term supporter of Surrey-based charities and voluntary sector organisations supporting children and young people’s mental health.

These services, now more than ever, are in need of significant uplift in funding to meet the increased demand that they are now facing as we come out of lockdown.

Jude Crome, CEO of Leatherhead Youth Project shares the story of one 13-year-old living in Surrey and why the support of a local charity is so important.

What can be done in the immediate to help?

Third sector partners really need “more boots on the ground.”

This would enable more time and focus to be spent catering to each individuals’ specific needs. Recruiting specialist well being youth workers for example, would be invaluable as every need is different. It is a struggle to recruit meaningful ongoing roles due to lack of resource.

“We are incredibly grateful to all of our generous local donors who have helped us to address the urgent need for support for local young people. However, we are aware that our local voluntary sector is in real need of further support.

Together We Can provide this support and bring hope to the lives of local young people; and make a real difference across our county.”

– Laura Thurlow, Chief Executive, Community Foundation for Surrey

A recording of our webinar is available. 

Click here to watch!

Thank you to our inspiring speakers

  • Jude Crome, Chief Executive, Leatherhead Youth Project

Jude is a qualified counsellor and has been working with young people in Surrey since 2008. Five of these years were as the Counselling and Emotional Wellbeing Manager at Leatherhead Youth Project and most recently as the Charity’s Chief Executive.

Leatherhead Youth Project (LYP) offers a diverse range of projects and activities to 11-19 year olds across Mole Valley, including Youth Cafes, Counselling, Sports Projects and Residential’s. LYP aims to respond to local needs and help young people to be safe, happy and making positive changes in their lives.

  • Sarah Kenyon, Heads Together Manager, YMCA East Surrey

Sarah is the Counselling Manager for YMCA East Surrey’s youth counselling service, Heads Together which has been supporting young people since the 1990’s. Sarah specialises in working with adolescents and young adults.

YMCA East Surrey is a vibrant community-based charity offering a wide variety of services across East Surrey with a strong emphasis on services for children and young people, particularly those facing challenges such a deprivation, physical or mental health issues, learning disabilities and difficult family circumstances. YMCA East Surrey’s work is driven by the desire to support children and young people to believe in themselves and to reach their full potential.

  • Chloe, a young person who shared her story

Source

[1], [2] https://youngminds.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/mental-health-stats/ Young Minds (as at August 2020)

[3] The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimated as at Mid 2017, Surreyi.

[4] https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/report/the-state-of-childrens-mental-health-services/ – Briefing: The state of children’s mental health services, Anne Longfield (published January 2020)

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Domestic abuse charity, Your Sanctuary, has been providing lifesaving support to survivors of domestic abuse since 1977. The Community Foundation for Surrey is a long-term supporter of Your Sanctuary, having awarded 19 grants to the local charity over the past 11 years.

Sanctuary for Survivors

1 in 8 people living in the UK expect to seek support from a charity or voluntary body in the next 12 months, as a direct result of challenges created by Covid-19. For more than half (61%) of these people, it will be the first time they have ever sought charitable support. The Community Foundation for Surrey urges local support to alleviate the urgent pressures facing our communities.

SURREY CHARITIES DESPERATELY IN NEED OF FURTHER FUNDING

east to west is a Surrey based charity supporting over 1,000 local children, young people and their families. We learn how their effective mental health support is making a difference across Surrey.

Building relationships and growing with our young people

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People with mental health needs

8th June 2020

Coronavirus
Response Fund

People with mental health needs

Apply for a Grant
Donate Now

We have to date awarded £289,423 to support people with mental health needs from our Coronavirus Response Funding.

One in four people experience a mental health problem in any given year. This equates to 297,500 people among the 1.19 million population of Surrey.

The Mental Health Foundation also estimate that 1 in 10 children and young people have poor mental health – an estimated 14,500 individuals between the ages of 5 and 15 in Surrey.

The experience of living through the Coronavirus pandemic has been deeply challenging for those experiencing mental health challenges.

How our grants are helping:

Oakleaf Enterprise, a mental health charity based in Guildford told us:

“All Oakleaf clients already suffered mental illness before this crisis arose. Most live very isolated lives as a result of their mental ill-health, cut-off from family and friends and dependent on Oakleaf for social contact and focus. Their lives are already hugely challenged.

In the current circumstances, we have seen that our clients are relying on whatever support Oakleaf can give. Within 2 minutes of a text being sent out to clients earlier this week, 20 replies were received from clients needing urgent support to help to prevent worsening mental health. We are currently providing some level of support to over 300 clients.”

In addition to those who were already experiencing mental ill-health prior to the pandemic, charities, including Surrey Care Trust, anticipate that “Coronavirus will have sweeping and long lasting effects on Surrey’s most vulnerable communities” – including, via unemployment, loss of or reduced income; increased stress, (especially as people struggle to source or finance basic supplies); and in the deterioration of adult and child mental health, including anxiety, depression and self-harm.

A survey in the last week of March – when we launched our Coronavirus Response Fund – reported that 21% of respondents were concerned about isolation and 20% about mental illness. Concerns about having negative feelings were reported by 13% of the respondents.[1]

A more recent survey (conducted in the first week of May), reported 58% of the population were finding it harder to stay positive about the future compared with before the outbreak.[2] The variation is stark – 13% of respondents to the first survey were concerned about having negative feelings but five weeks later, the second survey reports 58% were struggling.

Key issue: We know that early intervention is crucial for the effective and long-term treatment of developing mental health issues. In lockdown, people are suffering from isolation, worry and confusion, without access to usual support networks (friends, family, leisure activities etc) and not accessing treatment when needed. Helplines are seeing increased numbers of callers with suicidal thoughts and the concern is that even once lockdown is over, lack of treatment at this early stage will mean that many more people will continue to suffer mental illness.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists have warned that there could be a “tsunami of mental health problems that only arise after lockdown is over.” A survey of 1,369 psychiatrists between 1-6 May, found 45 per cent had seen a reduction in routine appointment attendance since 23 March, leading to fears that patients were avoiding support until they reach crisis point.

In addition nearly half (43 per cent) of psychiatrists had seen an increase in urgent and emergency caseloads where patients are showing the most serious conditions.”[3]

This is a long-term crisis. The repercussions from this pandemic will be felt across the county for some time to come. 

Bereavement services are particularly likely to be affected during the crisis. There is a much bigger rise in deaths than normally expected so there are many more bereaved people needing help. Many people are finding that bereavement is particularly traumatic during the pandemic. Losing their loved ones whilst experiencing social isolation means people are often unable to say their final goodbyes or seek comfort and hugs from their own parents, siblings and children if they happen to live in different households.

Cruse Bereavement Care in the South West Surrey area have set up additional phonelines to offer support, assistance, and advice to locally bereaved people.  They anticipate that there will be a further 200 bereavements/deaths locally as a result of the Coronavirus.  The charity has recruited and trained extra volunteers to help people cope with the bereavement of a loved one.

Below are the grants we have awarded locally to support people with mental health needs.

CharityProject DescriptionAmount Awarded
Total£289,423
40 Degreez Centre
Essential Running Costs for a charity providing youth work to support vulnerable young people in Farnham.
£22,225
Belong: Making Justice Happen
Funding to provide settlements information and basic needs packs for prisoners released from Coldingley Prison, and packs for remaining prisoners to cope with emotional stress caused by restrictions due to Coronavirus (no visitors, reduced activities)
£3,000
Catalyst
Funding to support vulnerable people struggling with addiction in Surrey during the Coronavirus pandemic
£5,000
Change of Scene
Essential running costs to enable an alternative educational provider to offer additional sessions to vulnerable young people
£10,034
Connect Counselling Service
Funding to maintain one-to-one counselling for clients struggling with emotional and relationship difficulties as face-to-face sessions are replaced by remote services during the Coronavirus pandemic£5,000
Creative Response Arts
Funding to provide art-based therapy to people suffering from mental health concerns alongside other disabilities, during the Coronavirus pandemic

£4,950
CREST
Funding for home visits, PPE equipment and other costs due to need to change delivery model in supporting members and carers
£2,300
Cruse Bereavement Care South West Surrey AreaFunding toward the essential running costs of a bereavement charity, based in Milford, during the COVID-19 pandemic£5,000
East to WestSalary costs to help a charity support young people who are suffering during the Covid-19 crisis, using new practises£5,000
East to West
Salary costs for 2 new roles to expand the services of a charity providing youth work for vulnerable young people
£9,319
EikonContribution to a Surrey charity supporting vulnerable young people during the Coronavirus pandemic
£5,000
EikonFunding towards increasing the capacity of 8 charities to provide support for Young People's mental Health in Surrey.
£50,000
Emerge Advocacy CIO
Providing supporting to vulnerable young people suffering with mental ill-health exacerbated by the Covid-19 outbreak£5,000
Emerge Advocacy CIO
Essential running costs to expand provision of support to young people at risk of suicide
£25,000
Guildford Shakespeare CompanyFunding toward the purchase of equipment and resource, for a theatre company based in Guildford, to offer an online course to those who suffer with mental health issues, during the COVID-19 pandemic£5,000
Hale Community Centre
Funding for a community store of items to borrow or swap during the coronavirus crisis		£3,753
Hersham Youth Trust
Funding toward the essential running costs of an organisation, based in Hersham, that runs youth clubs for the local young people, during the Covid-19 pandemic.
£5,000
Holy Trinity Church Claygate -The Well Youth Drop-In
Funding is requested for video and IT equipment, digital subscriptions and project costs to enable outreach youth work to continue for a local church
£3,350
I'm all earsFunding to provide 190 hours of free counselling to people in Waverley who are struggling during the Coronavirus pandemic£4,750
Imago Dei Prison Ministry
Funding to support isolated women in prisons, supporting their mental health, amid the Coronavirus pandemic
£2,684
Jigsaw (South East)
Costs to providing remote support to grieving people across Surrey during the Coronavirus Pandemic
£5,000
ManandBoy
Funding to provide a remote programme for vulnerable boys aged 9 - 12 with weekly contact with support workers and posted practical activities
£3,500
Mary Frances Trust
Funding for additional IT equipment to expand support services to people suffering from mental ill-health and isolation across Surrey amid the Coronavirus crisis£4,313
Matrix Trust
Funding toward the delivery in amended services and essential running costs for a youth work charity, based in Guildford, during the COVID-19 pandemic£4,500
Momentum
Funding to provide remote counselling to vulnerable families during the Coronavirus pandemic
£4,988
Oakleaf Enterprise
Delivery costs to support people with mental health problems during the Covid-19 crisis, using new remote methods
£5,000
Oakleaf Enterprise
Funding towards the Client Service Outreacher Worker supporting people experiencing mental ill-health and isolation during the COVID-19 lockdown
£5,000
Outline
IT equipment and running costs for a charity supporting LGBT+ people suffering during isolation during the Coronavirus pandemic
£3,000
Possability People
Core costs for a charity supporting people with long-term health issues during the Coronavirus pandemic
£5,000
Prison Advice & Care Trust (Pact)
Funding to provide support to the children and families of prisoners during the coronavirus crisis£5,000
Samaritans East Surrey
Funding for IT and cleaning equipment, and some core costs, for a Samaritan Service to support disadvantaged people amid the Coronavirus pandemic
£5,000
SeeAbility
Funding for an Advice Line for Carers of people with learning disabilities, autism and sight loss to provide support during the Coronavirus pandemic
£3,000
SHIFA
Funding to support Asian women via online sessions during the Coronavirus pandemic
£5,000
Surrey Care Trust
Funding to upgrade and implement a number of remote working practices to enable support to be given to vulnerable people across Surrey, facing an array of issues during the Covid-19 outbreak
£4,990
Surrey Care Trust
Funding for COVID-19 Support Groups, helps those who have suffered the effects of COVID-19, or are bereaved
£19,227
Surrey Drug and Alcohol Care
Funding towards Telephone Counselling Service for people suffering from mental-ill health during the Covid-19 outbreak
£5,000
Surrey Sands
Costs towards a charity supporting grieving parents in Surrey effected by the Coronavirus pandemic
£1,540
The Brigitte Trust
Costs towards a Telephone Befriending Service addressing loneliness and isolation during the Coronavirus outbreak
£5,000
The Lightbox
Costs to deliver arts-based support to existing elderly, isolated and vulnerable clients during the Coronavirus pandemic
£4,000
The Lucy Rayner Foundation
Funding to provide free counselling for those struggling during the Covid-19 outbreak
£5,000
Woking MIND
To fund the purchase of equipment to offer remote support to people suffering from mental ill-health during the Covid-19 outbreak
£5,000

Source

Related Case Studies

See all

Domestic abuse charity, Your Sanctuary, has been providing lifesaving support to survivors of domestic abuse since 1977. The Community Foundation for Surrey is a long-term supporter of Your Sanctuary, having awarded 19 grants to the local charity over the past 11 years.

Sanctuary for Survivors

1 in 8 people living in the UK expect to seek support from a charity or voluntary body in the next 12 months, as a direct result of challenges created by Covid-19. For more than half (61%) of these people, it will be the first time they have ever sought charitable support. The Community Foundation for Surrey urges local support to alleviate the urgent pressures facing our communities.

SURREY CHARITIES DESPERATELY IN NEED OF FURTHER FUNDING

east to west is a Surrey based charity supporting over 1,000 local children, young people and their families. We learn how their effective mental health support is making a difference across Surrey.

Building relationships and growing with our young people

Twitter

Follow us

Join our community and get involved in the conversation

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter or join our professional LinkedIn Group.

Subscribe for updates

Would you like to receive our email newsletters? We are refreshing our contact lists to ensure that consent is correctly captured as part of new GDPR regulations, so if you previously received our emails, you’ll need to opt-in again. Please click here to subscribe and find out more about the types of email communications we send.

Surrey Mental Health Fund awards second round of grants

2nd September 2019

The Community Foundation for Surrey is pleased to announce that we have made 5 new grants from our Surrey Mental Health Fund. The Fund, established in 2018 to support projects which focus on early intervention support for children and young people across the county, has now awarded £93,414 in grants to innovative local projects which will make a long-term difference to people in Surrey.

This second round of grants supported 5 projects to the total value of £39,148, each delivering an important service which fills a gap in local provision and helps young people to access help for mental health issues at an early stage.

The organisations supported are:

  • Discovery Church Trust –  £9,000 funding for an after-school club which supports vulnerable young people of primary school age in Chertsey
  • Matrix Trust – £9,998 funding for transition support for vulnerable pupils moving from Year 6 to Year 7 in Guildford
  • SparkFish – £6,000 awarded for Child Centred Therapy programmes using art and drawing in Reigate and Banstead
  • North Downs Schools Partnership – £4,000 awarded for workshops and debates for young people in schools about social media and mental ill health.
  • University of West London – £10,150.00 awarded for early intervention clubs for young people at risk of mental ill-health in Elmbridge

The groups supported will now start to begin their work and keep us up to date as they deliver impact in local communities.

What’s next for the Surrey Mental Health Fund?

Due to the impressive applications we have received, we are committed to continuing and growing the Surrey Mental Health Fund, and the Fund is now open for new applications, for an outcome in January 2020. If you are part of a charity or community group and believe you meet the criteria below, please visit our Apply for Funding page and submit an Expression of Interest – please note that if we invite a full application this will need to be submitted by the 18th October 2019.

Grants will be made to early intervention projects helping children and young people aged 8-13 develop emotional resilience and self-esteem. Consideration will be given to innovative new ideas and pilot projects as well as existing work.

Areas of particular interest include:

  • Encouraging healthier use of Social Media amongst children and young people
  • Self Harm prevention and support
  • Projects led by young people, including activities which raise awareness of youth mental health issues

Grants will typically be between £5,000-£10,000, however smaller projects are welcome to apply.

Please see our Surrey Mental Health Fund page for more information.

Supporting the Mental Health Fund

Thanks to the generosity of local donors, we were able to reach an incredible £100k for year one of the Fund, and we hope to be in a similar position again before the end of the year. Please do get in touch with us if you or your business would like to donate to the Fund, as your gift will join together with others to help have an even greater impact on children and young people in Surrey.

The full list of projects supported since launching the Mental Health Fund:

  • Peer Productions – ‘Hidden’, a performance raising awareness of self-harm, performed at schools across Surrey
  • George Abbott School – ‘Space for Young Minds’ – a series of wellbeing projects developed by student wellbeing Ambassadors
  • Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum – ‘Being Ourselves’, a pilot project exploring issues which affect mental health of BAME young people
  • YMCA East Surrey – Early intervention mental health workshops in schools in East Surrey
  • 40 Degreez Centre – ‘Health Hub’ project, offering dedicated 1:1 and group support sessions for young people
  • Momentum – Specialist counselling for young people who are living with cancer
  • Prospero Theatre – Multi phase project to support the wellbeing of boys at Sunnydown School.
  • Discovery Church Trust –  £9,000 funding for an after-school club which supports vulnerable young people of primary school age in Chertsey
  • Matrix Trust – £9,998 funding for transition support for vulnerable pupils moving from Year 6 to Year 7 in Guildford
  • SparkFish – £6,000 awarded for Child Centred Therapy programmes using art and drawing in Reigate and Banstead
  • North Downs Schools Partnership – £4,000 awarded for workshops and debates for young people in schools about social media and mental ill health.
  • University of West London – £10,150.00 awarded for early intervention clubs for young people at risk of mental ill-health in Elmbridge

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The new Surrey Mental Health Fund awards over £54,000 grant funding in response to growing mental health issues among children and young people

We’re pleased to announce our first grants from our Surrey Mental Health Fund that have been allocated to innovative early intervention projects helping children and young people aged 8-13 develop emotional resilience and self-esteem. READ MORE