Place2Be at the Bridge

Over 200 Bridge students
use Place2Be's counselling services  each year. Their families benefit
from support too and teachers are provided with practical training to help them
to support individual children more effectively and to help reduce stress in
the workplace. To continue Place2Be's specialist counselling and support costs
£36,000pa, and the Bridge pays 30% of that.  We are looking to fundraise
£25,000.

Some quotes from Bridge students:

• “It's      an environment where you can say what you want without being judged and you can think about your feelings and why you feel them.”  Year 7 girl

 
• “When I come and talk about my problems it's like a weight has been lifted from
       me” Year 7 girl

 
• “I'd miss not being able to talk and say everything I need to say if you weren't here - it would be like losing someone you can trust.” Year 8 boy

 
• “If you have a problem and you can't tell your friends you can come here and feel better.” Year 8 girl

 
• “I feel comfortable when I come here - you feel listened to and understood - we know we can trust you.” Year 8 girl

 
• “If Place2Be wasn't here I’d have to keep my problems inside and that would be horrible.” Year 8 girl

Place2Be is the UK's leading children's mental health charity providing in-school
support and expert training to improve the emotional wellbeing of pupils,
families, teachers and school staff. 

How are we working towards achieving this? 

·         In each school, the School Project Manager is able to respond swiftly to critical incidents and is on hand to engage with external agencies, support staff
initiatives and provide support within the school on all issues relating to
children’s mental wellbeing.

·         This is backed up by additional support from Place2Be’s specialist teams on safeguarding, special educational needs and disability and clinical
supervision.

·         Our support helps improve children’s attitudes to learning and academic progress. It builds children’s, young people’s and families’ resilience, providing them with brighter prospects and more hopeful futures.

Our in-school services

·         One-to-one counselling sessions: our volunteer counsellors provide weekly sessions in ‘the Place2Be room’ – a safe space with art and play materials where children can express their feelings and work through whatever is troubling them.

·         Place2Talk: short sessions during lunch and break times – this service is open to all pupils. Children can refer themselves and come alone or with their friends to speak to a counsellor. 

·         Parent Partnership:  Support sessions for parents and carers of children
receiving one-to-one counselling. This aims to help improve parents' confidence
in parenting skills and the quality of their relationship with the child.

·         Place2Think: Teachers and school staff are offered consultation to develop practical approaches that enable them to support children more effectively.

5 key facts about children’s mental health

·         3 children in every classroom have a diagnosable mental health problem

·         Half of those with lifetime mental health issues first experience symptoms by the age of 14

·         Depression and anxiety amongst teenagers have increased by 75% in the past 25 years

·         Children are less likely to suffer from serious mental health difficulties later in life if they receive support at an early age

·         Mental health problems in children and young people result in an increased cost to the public purse and to wider society.