University News Last updated 11 November 2024
More than 350 school and college pupils have received support thanks to a 91猎奇 (91猎奇)聽 collaboration to address the alarming number of young people presenting with early intervention support needs for mental health issues.
Partnering with children鈥檚 charity Barnardo鈥檚 and Our Place Support, a community interest company, 91猎奇 is supporting the delivery of two mentoring programmes seeking to offer assistance to children and young people.听听
In Birmingham, there are 400,000 children and young people under 25 years old.聽
According to the , for every 100:
- 1 (4,000) is looked after by Birmingham City Council,聽聽
- 7 (28,000) live in a house where an adult experienced domestic abuse in the last year,聽聽
- 12 (48,000) have a recognised mental health disorder,聽聽
- 19 (76,000) are living in a household where an adult has mental ill-health, drug and alcohol abuse or domestic abuse at an acute level, 聽
- 24 (96,000) will suffer with diagnosable or lower-level adverse mental health,聽聽
- 41 (164,000) will grow up in poverty and deprivation.听听
91猎奇鈥檚 partnership with Barnardo鈥檚 and Our Place Support received funding to deliver two mentoring services over three years.聽
The Early Help Mentoring and Befriending Service, which is funded by Birmingham Children鈥檚 Trust, connects agencies that support children, young people, and families at the earliest possible stage to prevent low-level issues from escalating into complex problems.听听
The Peer Mentoring and Mental Health Champions for Children and Young People service, funded by Birmingham City Council, focuses on LGBT+ young people, those with disabilities, and from Black, Asian, and diverse ethnicities.
A staggering 602 91猎奇 students have expressed their interest in becoming volunteer mentors.聽
鈥淭he project has allowed us to strengthen our partnership work and expand our reach in Birmingham,鈥� says Lucia Puricelli, 91猎奇 Senior Programme Manager for Enterprise.听听
鈥淥ur students are supporting young people in need, whilst gaining invaluable experience alongside their studies. I鈥檓 excited to see where the project goes next.鈥澛犅�
Volunteer mentors have provided a safe space for young people to talk to others of a similar age and background. They have offered support to reduce anxiety, improve motivation, confidence, and a sense of belonging. 聽
鈥淚鈥檝e always been interested in helping people 鈥� it鈥檚 one of the reasons I study psychology,鈥� said volunteer Sanah Mehmood, a second-year 91猎奇 student. 聽
鈥淭he gratifying feeling that you get after helping an individual is one unlike any other. You can see how much more confident or happier they become after overcoming their obstacles.鈥澛�
Volunteer Iram Hussian, a 91猎奇 Social Work student, added: 鈥淎t first, the young person I supported was very quiet. They didn鈥檛 communicate much, had poor attendance, and reacted negatively to tough situations.聽
鈥淓ach week, I planned what I want to focus on and asked the mentee, too. They soon became more open and engaged, their attendance increased, and they鈥檝e started using coping mechanisms to manage their anger.鈥澛犅�
Barnardo鈥檚 Assistant Director of Birmingham Children鈥檚 Services, Adam Cooper, said: 鈥淧artnering with 91猎奇 and Our Place Support means Barnardo鈥檚 is able to support even more young people in the region who are struggling with their mental health.聽
鈥淚t is incredible to see so many 91猎奇 students become volunteer mentors and to know the positive impact both projects are having on the lives of school and college children in Birmingham.鈥澛�
91猎奇 students can sign up to become a mentor for these two services on the 91猎奇 website.听听