The significant increase in distress and mental health difficulties amongst young people as a result of the pandemic and the cost of living crisis has led to an unprecedented increase in demand for counselling and mental health support. Our waiting list has more than doubled (to over 950) since the beginning of 2022. Given the immense pressures on the NHS and high thresholds, even GPs, social workers, and CAMHS now urgently refer very vulnerable and distressed young people to us.

Increasing the number of counselling sessions we provide by opening on Saturdays, and paying fully qualified and specially trained youth counsellors per session to see young people aged 11-17. Whilst additionally increasing our alternative mental health support projects and preventative outreach work e.g. support groups, Summer Transitions projects, creative expressive wellbeing activities, exclusion prevention, school workshops, community and youth social action projects, and online resources.