North Tyneside children's mental health receives funding boost
Summary
They realised that there was a gap in childrens mental health provision and decided to do what they could themselves to make a difference to children in the area.Starting originally with supplying 500 children wellbeing packs throughout lockdown, they then designed mental health workbooks and supplied 9,000 of these throughout the North East which helped countless children and parents cope with their own personal battles against the rising tide of mental health problems.Since those early days, Mindstars have seen demand for their work escalate and they have risen to the challenge by adapting, creating a Hub in the heart of North Shields, and creating activities and workshops to ensure that help is available to every family that needs it.Summer holiday activity clubs, food programmes for those children that are entitled to free school meals, and outdoor activities including surfing and educational visits have also kept the pair busy but perhaps their biggest impact has been seen within the schools that they work.Now, thanks to funding from the National Lottery and the NHS Primary Care Networks in North Shields and Wallsend, they are running a new three year long mental health programme. It is this full family approach that will create long lasting change and reduce the mental health crisis they are facing, said Marisa.This is our biggest contract to date, and it means that we are going to be able to help hundreds of families every year in North Tyneside who would perhaps otherwise have nowhere else to turn or be faced with waiting lists of up to two years.Rebecca agreed: We believe that no child should have to reach a mental health crisis before they have access to help and support. Mental health provision for children is stretched to say the least and if we can take some of the burden away from the statutory bodies then everyone benefits. The satisfaction we get from helping children and their families makes all the hard work worthwhile. Were very grateful to our funders.Duncan Nicholson, head of North East, and Cumbria region of the National Lottery Community Fund said: Thanks to National Lottery players we are delighted to have been able to support Mindstars and their valuable work supporting families and childrens mental health and well-being.