The BEAM Wolverhampton service, commissioned by the City of Wolverhampton Council, Wolverhampton Clinical Commissioning Group and HeadStart Wolverhampton, will support over 2,000 children and young people every year.
It is being delivered by the Children's Society, which has developed a number of successful emotional mental health and wellbeing services in the West Midlands in recent years, and will provide a safe space for children and young people aged from birth to 18 - and care leavers and anyone with a disability up to the age of 25 - who may need support with their emotional health and wellbeing.
BEAM Wolverhampton will be delivered from a number of locations around the city and is aimed at children and young people who are experiencing mild to moderate emotional wellbeing concerns, are engaging in risk taking or disruptive behaviours, are living with families experiencing difficulties or who might be known to other services.
It provides scheduled sessions with qualified therapists as well as a drop in service where young people won't need an appointment to speak to trained staff.
The drop in service offers a relaxed place where children and young people can enjoy refreshments, play games and talk to professionals about whatever is on their mind, whether that is stress, bullying, self harm, eating problems, confidence, anxiety, anger or depression.
Sessions take place at The Way Youth Zone, School Street, on Mondays from 11am to 3pm and Eastfield Community Centre, Colliery Road, on Wednesdays from 1pm to 5pm, and a team of therapists, youth workers and trained volunteers are on hand to provide support.
The structured appointment service enables young people to learn more about a problem they're facing and about strategies that can help. The sessions are available through a referral by the child's school, GP or BEAM Wolverhampton or Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services professionals.
Councillor Paul Sweet, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: "This innovative new service will help increase the range of provision for children and young people experiencing emotional mental health and wellbeing issues in Wolverhampton, and will ensure they receive appropriate support, whether that be through drop in sessions or one to one therapy."
Rob Willoughby, the Children's Society Area Director for the Midlands, said: "BEAM Wolverhampton is one of many services we have developed in the West Midlands. We are really looking forward to working with the City of Wolverhampton Council, Wolverhampton Clinical Commissioning Group and HeadStart Wolverhampton to further support our children and young people."
Mags Courts, Children's Commissioning Manager from Wolverhampton Clinical Commissioning Group, added: "BEAM Wolverhampton is an important step forward in providing the much needed emotional mental health and wellbeing support for Wolverhampton's children and young people, as part of a range of services available."
For more information please visit Type=links;Linkid=11096;Title=BEAM Wolverhampton;Target=_blank; or email askbeam@childrenssociety.org.uk.
Children and young people aged 10 to 16 can also get help and support to improve their emotional mental health and wellbeing through HeadStart Wolverhampton, part of a £56m programme set up by Big Lottery Fund covering six areas across the country.
To find out more, please visit Type=links;Linkid=6584;Title=HeadStart;Target=_blank;, follow @headstartfm on Twitter or Instagram, or Type=links;Linkid=7788;Title=HeadStart on Facebook;Target=_blank;.
- released: Wednesday 3 October, 2018