The Woodsmith Foundation has funded initiatives to help young people receive much-needed mental health support.

A survey by the charity Mind revealed that one in six children and young people in the UK experienced mental health distress for the first time during the pandemic, prompting the trustees of the Woodsmith Foundation to launch a £450,000 funding round.

Six organisations received funding to help facilitate their support for young people in the North York Moors National Park and the boroughs of Scarborough and Redcar & Cleveland.

One of those organisations to receive funding is EVA Women’s Aid. Their Chief Executive Richinda Taylor said: “This grant will enable us to deliver a programme focussing on children and young people who have been victims of abuse, which will include supporting their parents or carers, and specialist counselling for the victims and survivors.

“We are very grateful for this support, and having two years of funding means this project can really embed and therefore ensure some positive outcomes for participants.”

Art Therapy Yorkshire work with other service providers, schools, voluntary and charitable organisations to improve standards of mental health in the area.

Their Chair Moyra Bentley said: “We are delighted to be given the opportunity to work alongside the Woodsmith Foundation, supporting their commitment to improving the lives and the well-being of children and young people in our local community.

“The substantial funding made available over a two-year period will allow for significant long term projects to be developed and delivered that will have the potential to make beneficial change to children and young people who have been adversely affected by the pandemic.”

Redcar & Cleveland Mind and A Time 4 You Psychological Services are collaborating for the first time to support Children and Young People’s Emotional Wellbeing thanks to funding from the Woodsmith Foundation.

“Time 4 Your Mind is a co-designed project bringing together a wealth of experience, expertise, and knowledge which we want to share for the purpose of delivering and reaching young people in order to get help as soon as they need it and to help build resilience so they can thrive,” said Redcar & Cleveland Mind Operations Director, Kirsty Childs.

“Our collaboration is a perfect combination of art psychotherapy and creativity meets integrative psychotherapy, including trauma work, solution focused work and goal outcome focused work with children and young people at the centre.”

Woodsmith Foundation Chairman, Ian Swales, added: “I am delighted the Woodsmith Foundation has been able to make this significant investment to increase the amount of counselling support available at community locations across our area of benefit.

“The pandemic has increased the number of children and young people seeking support for their mental health and the Trustees felt it was vitally important to provide additional support over the next two years.”

Organisations funded:
EVA Women’s Aid
The Junction Foundation
Kidz Konnekt
Redcar and Cleveland MIND
Art Therapy Yorkshire
Community Counselling (North Yorkshire)

For more information on the Foundation, visit www.woodsmithfoundation.org.uk

If you are suffering from mental health issues and need support, you can contact any of the following for support and guidance:
Samaritans - 116 123
Shout Crisis - Text Shout to 85258
Mind - 0300 123 3393
Rethink Mental Illness - 0300 5000 927
CALM - 0800 58 58 58