A MENTAL health organisation has warned that children and young people could be left without support as funding pressures threaten around 114 appointments a week.
Together We, a not-for-profit organisation providing mental health and wellbeing support across Cumbria, says funding for parts of its children, young people and families service is due to reduce significantly.
The organisation provides community-based psychological therapies, including support from children’s wellbeing practitioners and cognitive behavioural therapy staff.
It says its service is designed particularly for children and young people who may fall between existing forms of support, including those experiencing school refusal, behavioural difficulties, disordered eating or requiring parenting and family support.
Samantha Joughin, chief operating officer and cognitive behavioural psychotherapist at Together We, said: “We work with people who truly do fall between the gaps.
“Some people will end up without support in place, especially children and young people who, like I said, fall between the gaps.”
Together We says it typically supports around 1,200 people each year across the pathways affected by funding pressures, around 800 of who are children, young people and families.
While some services will remain, Samantha said the organisation was facing a reduction of around 176 hours of delivery time each week - approximately 114 appointments.
She said: “We’re talking about a significant loss of people that won’t be seen.”
The organisation works alongside statutory and commissioned services, including through regular meetings with CAMHS, to identify where young people can receive the most appropriate support.
Samantha said Together We was seeking community and bridge funding while holding discussions with commissioners, but believed a longer-term solution was needed.
She said: “There’s still time to prevent the closure.
“We know that there’s a significant need for this to be commissioned long term. So, it’s not just about community fundraising.”
Together We is continuing to seek community and bridge funding while calling for a longer-term commissioning solution for the service.
Samantha encouraged community funders and anyone interested in supporting the organisation to get in touch directly with Together We at sam@togetherwe.uk.
You can find out more about the organisation here: TogetherWe – mental health and wellbeing support service in Cumbria.
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