The Children’s Society’s PILOT project, which provides free emotional support to children, has received £1m from BBC Children in Need, it was announced this month.
The charity’s “Space to Grow” initiative supports children between the ages of 8 and 13 who do not have access to existing welfare services. It has a particular focus on young carers and UK minority ethnic/global majority heritage and LGBT+ groups. Children who use the service may experience bullying, racism, abuse, problems at home or school or other problems, the charity says.
Children’s mental health deteriorated during the pandemic, the mental health organization Mind reports. In 2021, one in six children had mental health problems, compared to one in nine before Covid.
Children’s Society chief executive Mark Russell said the aim was to reach children “before they reach crisis point”. He thanked BBC Children in Need for funding, which he said would “reach children who often miss out on early help. We look forward to supporting thousands more children to be happier, healthier and successful.”
The initiative is running in Chelmsford, Edinburgh and Glasgow, and the funding will support its expansion to other locations in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland over the coming months. Its goal is to reach 6,000 children in the next two years. It works in partnership with the charity Children First in Scotland and MACS in Northern Ireland.
The initiative also supports parents, guardians and school staff.