Prime Highlights:
- KidsAid has received £247,727 from the National Lottery to provide mental health support in schools across Northamptonshire and Peterborough.
- The Stronger Together project will offer therapy for children and parents, along with training for school staff, over the next three years.
Key Facts:
- The project will support 66 children and nine parents per school, with on-site therapists providing one-to-one and group sessions.
- Up to 18 school staff will receive trauma-informed training to better support children’s mental health.
Background:
A Northampton-based children’s charity, KidsAid, has received a £247,727 grant from the National Lottery to provide vital mental health services in schools across Northamptonshire and Peterborough. The funding, which will span three years, will support the charity’s Stronger Together project, launching this September.
Nicola Thurbon, senior head of regional funding at the National Lottery Community Fund, said they are happy to support KidsAid in giving vulnerable children timely and meaningful help.
The project aims to bring therapy and emotional support directly to schools, helping children and their families cope with mental health challenges. Geoff Russell-Jones, representing KidsAid, said the support would be “coordinated” and “impactful,” ensuring children receive the care they need.
NSPCC research shows that, on average, two children in every classroom face some form of abuse, showing the need for help early.
Over three years, the Stronger Together project will support 66 children and nine parents in each school. Two therapists will visit the school one day a week, providing one-to-one sessions, group sessions, and parent support sessions. Up to 18 staff members will receive trauma-informed training to help them support children’s well-being.
KidsAid is inviting schools to sign up for the program. After the three years, the charity plans to continue its work through local business and school partnerships, reaching even more children.
The project helps schools support mental health and gives vulnerable children the care they need.
