Our children and young people’s services continue to help and support young people and their families across Coventry and Warwickshire.
With expanding service offers, growing social media channels and more presence at external events, our teams are working hard to ensure that children and young people can access support when they need it.
Our Rise service continues to offer emotional wellbeing groups, led by young people, to those experiencing anxiety, anger, and low self-esteem and mood. The Children Looked After team are carrying out great work, using drama therapy, therapeutic play and talking therapies. The team have also undertaken training to aid professional development.
One of the many events attended this year was the Child Friendly Warwickshire Youth Conference, where Taisian and Izzy were on hand to offer support and signposting to children and young people.
Our Big Umbrella service continues to support young people in schools. We are also working with Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust to deliver a helpline to support young people (and their families and professionals) where there is an immediate mental health risk.
It has also been a busy few months for new service offers. National Mind have also funded us to deliver Supported Self Help, a short-term service offering children and young people guided support based on the principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. We are also delivering a Wellbeing Adviser programme, which pairs a young person with an adviser to work through their worries and develop coping strategies.
Our Keyworker service continues to support young people who are autistic and/or have a learning disability, and their families, including recently refreshing the service’s co-production elements. Furthermore, along with our Vibes social groups, our newly expanded Community Autism Support Service has been supporting autistic individuals, and families and professionals, across the region.
Recently, a group of young people visited Brandon Marsh, in collaboration with the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, and took part in a bushcraft workshop. The activities allowed them to connect with nature to boost wellbeing and gave them a sense of curiosity, excitement and accomplishment.
A huge congratulations to Suman, Administrator Team Leader, who came runner-up in the Expert Citizens National INSIGHT Awards 2023 in the ‘welcoming’ category. Suman was nominated for her ‘exceptional dedication to creating a safe and nurturing environment for young people facing mental health difficulties’.
As a finalist, Suman received an award and a £250 grant, which will be utilised to further enhance the ongoing support provided to children and young people. Reflecting on the experience, Suman said, ‘the nomination for such an award has been surreal. I am incredibly honoured to have been part of the INSIGHT Awards and would like to express my gratitude to the wonderful people in our children and young people’s services for their unwavering support, making this achievement possible. I could not have done this without them!’