YMCA Cambridgeshire & Peterborough has launched a new programme for schools that will help develop their health and well-being agenda and recognise when their pupils might need extra support.

YMCA already supports schools across Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Suffolk through direct work such as therapy or counselling, as well as resilience programmes including group work, family work and mentoring.

The ‘Train the Trainer’ prospectus offers schools the opportunity to train their own teachers to be able to deliver some of the early intervention programmes, as well as providing those teachers with the resources to train others within the school to identify and develop support for specific mental health issues and signpost those needing clinical intervention. A yearly license fee-style scheme will see YMCA keep the school updated with new resources, research and advice, whilst organising peer support and refresher training.

We have delivered mental health services locally for 25 years and we now want to use that experience to empower schools to promote positive mental health, and provide them with tried and tested programmes they can use to support those that need extra help – Jonathan Martin

The launch of the service comes as schools look to tackle the growing issue of mental health in young people, whilst navigating ever decreasing budgets. This month the first official estimate of the nation’s vulnerable minors was revealed by the Children’s Commissioner for England, which showed in the region of 800,000 children in the UK suffering from mental health problems.

Jonathan Martin, CEO of YMCA Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, spoke about the new service: “We have delivered mental health services locally for 25 years and we now want to use that experience to empower schools to promote positive mental health, and provide them with tried and tested programmes they can use to support those that need extra help.”

“Whilst we will continue to deliver clinical services directly, schools that utilise our new service will, through training, have long-term, sustainable support for health and well-being provision in their school, with easy access to our knowledge and resources,” continued Jonathan. “Importantly for schools in this climate, they will also save a huge amount on the cost of the usual direct delivery of these services – potentially up to 75%; which represents a cost effective solution to reducing budgets. We will even support them to fundraise and increase awareness through our new Purple Day package.”

To find out more about YMCA Cambridgeshire & Peterborough visit their website.