Saltash, Cornwall. June 9, 2018
Livewire Youth Project’s new mental health service for young people – ‘Heart n’ Soul’, is now up and running.
With generous grant funding of £80,000 from Global’s ‘Make Some Noise’, the Saltash Waterside based charity is providing an on-site Mental Health Worker for two years, with the intention of making this a permanent service. Global’s ‘Make Some Noise’ is the official charity of Global, the Media & Entertainment group, and home to Capital, Heart, LBC, Classic FM, Smooth, Radio X, Capital XTRA and Gold.
After the funding was received in April, Livewire embarked upon a lengthy and complex recruitment process resulting in the hiring of Elaine Keogh, who is now heading up Livewire’s mental health support services.
Andy Rance, Livewire Youth work Coordinator explains, ‘Young people’s mental health and wellbeing has been a growing problem over the past few years. Since national and local government introduced widespread and devastating austerity measures, the numbers of young people presenting with issues has increased frighteningly. We became painfully aware that long waiting lists for help and support were exacerbating an already intolerable situation for young people who were struggling. We decided enough was enough and that we needed to do something – ultimately successfully raising the funding to set up this new service for the wider community Livewire serves.’
A team of qualified volunteer and qualifying student counsellors has been set up to work alongside Elaine, with counselling and support available at each of Livewire’s open access sessions on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, as well and daytime sessions.
Alongside this, Livewire has also been successful in raising a further £41,000 to run closed group sessions on Tuesday evenings for young people grappling with mental health and wellbeing issues. These sessions are specifically aimed at young people from the Plymouth city area. Parents, carers and other agencies and organisations can refer young people to any of these sessions but most importantly, young people can refer themselves.
There will also be support for parents of young people going through issues, and soon an after-school session for the younger age group.
If anyone would like more information or to refer a young person, please do not hesitate in contacting Elaine via email Elaine@livewireyouth.com, call (01752) 843570, or simply drop in on one of the open access sessions. There will be NO long waiting lists.
About Livewire: Livewire Youth Music Project uses contemporary music to unlock creativity, offering young people, free music, vocal, and technical lessons in a safe and supportive environment, incorporating traditional youth work and a youth club. This combination has proven to be very effective in helping steer young people through the trials and tribulations of growing up, focusing their energy on constructive activities and often leading to improved employability and music industry careers.
Livewire is generously supported by local companies, volunteers, Saltash Town Council and Cornwall Music Education Hub. Visit the new website at www.livewireyouth.com or just call them on 01752 843570 and ask to speak to Andy or Julie Rance.
Media enquiries:
Andy Rance on 01752 843570 or at andy@livwireyouth.com
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