Children in Tees Valley to be the first to benefit from BOND
Children and young people are under pressure like never before. It is estimated at least 14,000 children and young people suffer from a diagnosable mental health problem in the Tees Valley area, which equates to 3 children in every classroom.
Perceptions of social stigma can make it difficult to use statutory services, and instead children, young people and their families often choose their local community services that appear more open and less judgemental. It is often left to schools to identify the problems and support the young person to find services that will help them.
BOND (Better Outcomes, New Delivery) is an ambitious, innovative project funded by Department for Education that will ensure children, young people and families receive quality assured early intervention mental health support services in schools and other settings.
BOND will be testing new approaches to joint working and providing intensive support, through workshops, one to one coaching and action learning sets, for voluntary and community sector organisations, commissioners and schools in Tees Valley.
Sarah Brennan, Chief Executive of YoungMinds said: “Many children and young people across Tees Valley are struggling to cope with mental health problems. BOND aims to help them get the right help they need as early as possible, before their problems escalate.”
Gill Rollings, Director of Children, Family and Learning at Middlesbrough Council said “We are very excited to be a part of the BOND programme and working with schools and other organisations across Tees Valley. We are pleased to be part of this pilot which we believe will lead the way in developing new and effective ways of working to improve children and young people’s emotional and mental health.”
This is the first of five pilots across England the BOND Consortium will run, and which commenced in April 2012. The programme will be launched by Middlesbrough Councillor Mike Carr and the Department for Education at a local reception on 15 May in Middlesbrough.
Find out more information about the work of the Bond programme here
