Headspace: supporting young people’s mental health in the North Cotswolds - The Provincial Grand Lodge of Gloucestershire
The High Sheriff of Gloucestershire, Dame Fiona Reynolds CBE DBE, visited Headspace in Bourton on the Water recently to hear all about the great work they do. Also there were Ian Davies, head of the Gloucestershire Freemasons; his deputy, Mark Smith; and almoner, Dom Blake. Both the High Sheriff’s and the Freemasons’ Fund are managed […]
The High Sheriff of Gloucestershire, Dame Fiona Reynolds CBE DBE, visited Headspace in Bourton on the Water recently to hear all about the great work they do. Also there were Ian Davies, head of the Gloucestershire Freemasons; his deputy, Mark Smith; and almoner, Dom Blake. Both the High Sheriff’s and the Freemasons’ Fund are managed by the GCF, Gloucestershire Community Foundation. The Freemasons Fund had made a grant of £1000 to Headspace recently. Headspace is a charity dedicated to supporting mental health in young people from the last year of primary school to age nineteen. Paul Heming, CEO of Headspace, told them: “We are currently supporting 77 young people in our programme but there are 37 on the waiting list. That’s 37 kids who are struggling and need to be heard. We’re very grateful for the support of our local Freemasons but we need more funds and volunteer mentors to help us to help these kids. ” Paul explained that anxiety, stress, self-harm, social anxiety, and other mental health concerns are growing in this area just like everywhere else. The North Cotswolds is of course known for being a beautiful area, which can actually tend to mean that funding goes toward other parts of the county when of course there are young people struggling with their mental health here too. Clients know that they will have a safe space here where they can open up with complete confidentiality to someone who is willing to listen, to take time to understand them, and who have the experience to help them through the challenges that they face. The charity mentors pupils at Cotswold School and has also been awarded a BBC Children in Need three year grant to support those in long term exclusion from education. “It’s so important to listen to these kids to understand the issues which have caused them to be excluded,” Paul explained. “We can then support them to get back on track instead of becoming more and more isolated and alienated. These young people have so much to offer and we show them how to recognise that fact and build on their strengths. ”If the outreach mentoring programme is included the charity is currently helping over two hundred young people. “The first challenge is to win these kids’ trust. ” Arthur Arnold, one of the volunteer mentors pointed out. “For whatever reason they feel they aren’t being heard. It’s like finding the key to unlock what’s there. Sometimes it’s a hobby they’re passionate about. We can work with that to find out where life has gone adrift for them and help them to steer it back. ”Lydia Lockhart, Coach and Tutor, agreed: “These kids already have what they need, we just draw that out and give them a path. Sometimes being in an outdoor space helps them to find the calm that enables them to see that. Goose, my dog, always offers unqualified affection which often helps too!”Helen Sharman Jones is Head of Services, bringing her experience of a career in nursing. “We know there are many young people out there who would benefit greatly from a little support. Delivered at the right time, when it’s needed, can make a fundamental difference to how the rest of their lives turn out. If you care about our young people then please think about becoming a volunteer mentor for us. We’ll take care of suitability and training so there is no need to hesitate, just get in touch. ”Ian Davies, head of the Gloucestershire Freemasons, said: “I’m really pleased that we’ve been able to help the fantastic team at Headspace to make a crucial difference to the lives of so many young people in the North Cotswolds. I’d like to thank them for all they do, and also the team at the Gloucestershire Community Foundation who manage the Freemasons’ Fund for us. ”For more information on Headspace please go to their websitehttps://www. myheadspace. org. uk/Our photographs show:Arthur Arnold, Helen Sharman-Jones, Dame Fiona Reynolds, Lydia Lockhart and Phil Heming;Dom Blake, Mark Smith, Arthur Arnold, Helen Sharman-Jones, Ian Davies, Lydia Lockhart and Phil Heming