What is SPACE?

The SPACE project offers a safe, fun and friendly environment for children and young people and their families who are experiencing mental health difficulties in County Durham. We offer a 7 day service staffed by a team of dedicated and passionate Mental Health Project Workers who encourage young people and families to embrace and be proud of who they are

SPACE Services include:

• One to one support , Group activities , Drop in, telephone and social media access to mental health information and support

The story so far

• Young people and families with experience of mental health issues designed the project

• We received 6 months funding in January 2018 to pilot the project and a range of ideas

• The doors opened on 29th January 2018 and we have had over 1000 contacts with children, young people, families and professionals during this time.

• We are based in Spennymoor but young people and families from all over County Durham attend

Young People and Families are telling us SPACE is making a difference:

• “My son has made friends within the group and is able to learn about mental health in a safe environment”

• “I have learned how to make friends a lot easier and to cope with my mental health”

• “My son feels a lot more confident when going to school as he can use his plan. I think he feels he can talk to staff here if he can’t talk to us at home”

• “I get to make friends although I have autism and that makes it harder”

• “SPACE has given support to me as a parent. I have received advice on services and ways to help me”

What Next

• We know the project is making a difference. Engagement in positive activities in a supportive, trusting environment is helping to improve children & young people’s mental health

• We currently only have funding until June 2018

• If we don’t secure further funding all the families who are currently accessing will lose the support they are receiving from SPACE

• In the long term we hope to secure grant funding to help keep the project going

• We have a short term crisis situation where we need to raise £90,000 to keep the project going another 6-9 months

• Funding covers rent, resources and mental health staff salaries

• The time would help us develop a model to the sustain the project in the community for many years to come