Personal circumstances have driven me to set up a charity. My son has - as yet undiagnosed - ADHD but, along with his brother, experienced a trauma two years ago when his dad left. This has led to various difficulties, all exaggerated and magnified in light of recent lockdowns. The most recent determining the largest impact.

My son has exhibited behaviours, been aggressive and verbally unpleasant, lashed out and been isolated within his school. This, within school, led to safeguarding and MASH referrals which culminated in the obvious conclusion that the school needed to support him better before he triggered and that he was in need of counselling. But nothing, thus far, is available. Though his existing SEN is ongoing and due to be assessed, his need to unearth and clear that trauma would help him.

In attempting to seek counselling for my son, in light of a deficit within school currently and a long wait beforehand; an absence of support through CAMHS and a very long wait before his ‘pre-assessment’; a large cost attached to any private sessions that also have limited or inflexible availailibity; an absence of any assistance that is face to face due to his age, meaning he cannot have online sessions and an absence of trained counsellors for children, I have determined to set up a charity. The aim to benefit all those families who struggle and cannot reach the support needed before behaviours set in and cement into the psyche.

I myself have worked with teenagers within Fresh Start ( a service available to those often undiagnosed and many times expelled) as an English Lecturer and many were disillusioned with CAMHS and all public services related to mental health. Thus many, stereotypically, resorted to self-medication through various illegal means.

At no point prior has the need for counselling been so great, for children specifically, and the services available so out of reach and lacking, for so many.

This is currently within an ideas stage and I am doing the groundwork I can to arrange this process and setup what would be a charity. I hope to arrange a system by which trainee counsellors, as part of an internship, or recently qualified counsellors might lend their experience to the charity for their own experience, CPD or as part of a position as a counsellor within the group. Giving sessions one to one to clients who are in need. Counsellors would be paid through the charity, students of counselling would be paid 60% of the wage from the midway point and those who would intern and learn on the job (regulated and via some sort of scheme which could be implemented later) would gain insight and experience. Differing levels of need would determine different levels of experience from the counsellor and this would occur through a pre-assessment.

If any might volunteer as part of this would be advantageous as I feel so many families could benefit from this, I know my son would. I would love to visualise a space in which art therapy, music therapy and a sensory garden might be incorporated for children with SEND and neurotypical children to buffer the post-counselling feelings. Though adolescents would not be the focus, a space for them could be designated. Groups for parents to communicate, support each other, art therapy and parenting for adults with SEND/anxious or traumatised children would also be an aim as part of afternoon or weekend support hubs.

If anyone would contribute to this, which could benefit not only the families of children who struggle, but more significantly, the next generation of adults who will have learnt strategies to cope and guide themselves through the difficulties life can present, you have my eternal gratitude.

Thank you so much for your time.