OXFORDSHIRE DISCOVERY COLLEGE

The funding will be used to support three core roles which help to support children and young people experiencing mental health problems. The project aims to improve their wellbeing and equip them with tools to stay well or aid recovery.

Funding paid for staff to oversee and deliver mental health learning programmes for children and young people across Oxfordshire.

Grant to Oxfordshire Discovery College

Our aims for 2022 involve being a key component in supporting young people to recover from the impact of Covid, by upscaling the programmes we've already created in response to the huge increase in need we're seeing as a direct result of the ....more

Our aims for 2022 involve being a key component in supporting young people to recover from the impact of Covid, by upscaling the programmes we've already created in response to the huge increase in need we're seeing as a direct result of the pandemic - making our services available to more children, young people, and families, and making our structure as an organisation more stable to ensure we can offer them continuity. We plan to appoint longer-term staff, including a Coordinator and Facilitators who can deliver, and continue to develop, an array of programmes on a rolling basis. This will enable us to roll out delivery to at least 3 new locations across the county, identified by indicators such as economic deprivation or high hospital admission rates, and develop a robust enrolment process for all of our participants to ensure ease of access. This grant will enable us to grow and extend our staff capacity by providing salaries for two staff on 9 hours/week basis for 7 months. We currently have Facilitators working with us - co-designing and co-delivering programmes, but having these roles secured for a further 7 months will enable us to be responsive to need, taking different programme topics to different geographical locations across the 7 month period. We will deliver our existing multisession programmes to a variety of beneficiaries, increasing our reach. Existing topics include Self Harm > Self Care (for primary, secondary, young adult, and parent audiences); dealing with change; identity; and wellbeing for primary aged children. We work closely with partners and have the trust of these organisations - this includes Oxfordshire Youth, Abingdon DAMASCUS, Ark-T, Debating Mental Health and others.