Warrington Youth Zone has been allocated new funding from the Department of Health and Social Care for an Early Support Hub, providing greater mental health support for young people across the area.
A total of 24 Early Support Hubs across the country, including the town’s Youth Zone, will receive a share of almost £8 million for 2024-25 to support thousands of children and young people to receive earlier, open-access mental health interventions in their local community.
The drop-in hubs, which were successfully trialled in October 2023, provide a space for anyone aged 11-25 to go when problems first emerge, helping to prevent more severe or enduring mental health conditions from developing.
Support offered include psychological therapies, specialist advice and wider issues which may affect a young person’s mental health, including sexual health, exam worries, jobs, drugs, alcohol and financial worries.
Around 70 Early Support Hubs currently exist across the country, which are run by a range of local services including volunteer organisations, NHS Trusts and local authorities.
Welcoming the announcement, Warrington South MP Andy Carter said: “I’m really pleased that Warrington Youth Zone will be housing a new mental health hub. It’s a fantastic place full of dedicated staff and volunteers who go out of their way for the children and young people who use it, and I couldn’t think of a more supporting and friendly environment for them to be able to come and talk about their mental health when they need a bit of help.
“As parents, we know that our children face huge pressures whether that’s from social media down to exams in school, and whilst I would always want my child to talk to me if he’s ever struggling with stress or anxiety, a lot of young people appreciate having an external support network to turn to if they need it.
“As awareness of mental health continues to grow, it’s only right that the Government are delivering this essential investment in mental health services to offer everyone the support they need to live a happy and healthy life.”
This announcement comes as investment in NHS mental health services continues to increase each year, with an additional £2.3billion a year helping to expand and transform services so an extra 2 million people can get mental health support, including an extra 345,000 children and young people.
A further £795million was announced in last year’s Autumn Statement to address the root causes of mental health problems over the next five years – including expanding talking therapies and other services to reach an additional 500,000 adults and children.
Mental health support teams are also being rolled out to schools and colleges in England to support early interventions for young people. Around 400 mental health support teams are currently in place and coverage will increase to at least 50 per cent of pupils in England by the end of March 2025.
The Minister for Mental Health, Maria Caulfield MP said: “This Government is taking the long-term decisions needed to make our healthcare system faster, simpler and fairer. Mental health support for our young people is a key part of that.
“No child or young person should suffer alone, and this additional funding for 24 mental health hubs will improve access and bring in more staff and experts who can help those who need it the most.
“This will build on the brilliant work they already do, and supports our ongoing work to make sure every person has access the highest quality mental health services.”
