VULNERABLE young people in Warwickshire will soon be able to tap into psychological support.
Innovating Minds, based at Stratford Samaritans Community Hub at Tyler House in the centre of Stratford, has set up one to one psychological support as part of Progress, a £2.8million initiative funded by European Social Fund and the Big Lottery Fund.
It will help young people who find it hard to access training, education or employment get the training, skills and support they need to help find a job, a training opportunity or start a course.
The social enterprise firm will work with 15 to 24 year-olds not in employment, education or training. Many can often feel anxious and do not know where to turn for expert help. Over the 18 month life of the project, 225 young people will be eligible for a range of therapies.
The team at Innovating Minds will offer young people an opportunity to talk about their problems and take control by changing the way they think and act.
The tried and trusted approach is often used to treat anxiety and depression, but can also be useful for other mental and physical health problems too.
Staff will work with young people to identify the barriers and blocks holding them back and help them find ways to reach their goals, from from one to one sessions to group work.
Innovating Minds will be working locally with many other groups such as Young People First, Learn 2, and Team Springboard.
Dr Asha Patel, chief executive of Innovating Minds, said: “Personalised psychological support can help young people feel better about themselves and more optimistic about their futures. This is critical to them making successful transitions to education, training or employment.
‘We are delighted to have a base in Stratford because we know that young people, particularly from rural communities in South Warwickshire, can find it difficult to access help.’
Innovating Minds joins the Samaritans, Lifespace, the youth mentoring charity and St Basils, which supports young people in housing crisis at Tyler House.
The Hub has also been used by more than 50 charities and community groups in the last two years.
Visit www.innovatingmindscic.com for further details.
