Depaul hopes that, as a result of the £88,611 grant, at least 90 young people who are experiencing severe mental health issues will have access to help more quickly, and that 300 young homeless people will be more resilient and better informed about positive wellbeing and their choices and rights.
The charity, which runs North Tyneside Outreach Service helping 16-to-25-year-olds facing homelessness, will use the money to pay for a part-time mental health and wellbeing manager working in North Tyneside and to provide a wide range of activities supporting mental health and wellbeing.
Deborah Legg, Depaul’s Whitley Bay-based Wellbeing Manager, said: “We are very grateful to NHS North Tyneside Clinical Commissioning Group for this generous award which will enable our team to give wellbeing and mental health workshops to young people, in partnership with volunteers and external organisations.
“We will also provide mental health training for our service staff in North Tyneside to enhance their knowledge, awareness and skills on mental health and wellbeing issues, and create and sustain strong cooperative links with specialist local providers to help young people experiencing crisis to get help quicker.”
Deborah added: “We also want to use some of this grant to partner with external organisations to help them get specialist support and counselling and reduce waiting times in times of crisis.”
Dr Richard Scott, a local GP and Clinical Chair at NHS North Tyneside Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “Voluntary organisations like Depaul can bring a fresh perspective and make a real difference in our communities.
“It’s great that Depaul is now one of nine local organisations changing people’s lives with support from NHS North Tyneside CCG.”
