Targeted support

We offer a mental well-being support service for the young people registered with us. Currently, only our staff can refer to this service.

What does it involve?

The content of the sessions will depend on your specific situation and the goals you would like to work towards. We use the ‘My Mind Star’ to start conversations and track progress in different areas, including feelings & emotions, healthy lifestyle, where you live, friends & relationships, school, training & work, how you use your time and self-esteem. We will work together to better understand your mood and learn ways that you can cope with difficult emotions in a more positive way and productive way.

After an initial assessment, a young person may be referred through multiple pathways:

1. Routine - Assessment and followed by weekly 45-minute sessions for up to 15 weeks. Onward referrals made if required.
2. Intensive - Assessment and followed by twice weekly 45-minute sessions for up to 6 weeks. Onward referrals made if required - potential to be referred to routine pathway
3. Assessment - Assessment and followed by onward referrals to more appropriate services.
4. Referral/Advice only - No assessment and advice/support given for onward referrals to more appropriate services. If there are significant risk; signpost parent/carer to GP/A&E, Lewisham CAMHS Duty Line (HorizonDuty@slam.nhs.uk)

Who is it for?

For young people aged 12-19 (up to 25 with special educational needs) who are registered with our youth clubs and are struggling with their emotional well-being.

Please note that we are not a crisis service – find a list of crisis services.

If you need urgent help

Call 111 to speak to the national NHS helpline for anyone with an urgent healthcare need that isn’t a 999 emergency.

CAMHS Crisis Line 0203 228 5980 (available 5pm-11pm Mon - Fri, 9am - 11pm Sat-Sun-Bank Holidays). Call 0800 731 2864 (Select option 1) for our local 24-hour mental health crisis line.

If anyone is at risk of serious harm call 999 and ask for an ambulance, or the police. 

Get in touch about our mental well-being support service

If you'd like to understand more about the service get in touch with Kit, our Mental Well-being Practitioner. Please note we don't take outside referrals.

Kit Pearson, Mental Well-Being Practitioner
Email: kit.pearson@lewisham.gov.uk

This service is dedicated to supporting children and young people who may be facing challenges related to health and well-being, communication, behaviour and boundaries, aspirations, as well as school and education.

Our team consists of qualified and experienced youth and community workers who collaborate with young people either individually or in groups for approximately 12 weeks. During this time, young people receive tailored support from a professional youth worker based on their specific needs. This support may include workshops, games, life skills training, discussions, and more. We also identify any areas where young people may require specialist support and refer them to the appropriate services.

To be eligible to access this service young people must:

• live, study or work in Lewisham borough
• be between the ages of 8 to 19, and up to 25 with special educational needs (priority will be given to those over the age of 13)
• facing any issues relating to school, family or relationship problems, drug/alcohol concerns, behavioural needs, emotional well-being, keeping safe or anti-social behaviour 

One-to-one contact

If you want to know more information on this service, please get in contact with Aminata Swaray.

Aminata Swaray Interim Joint Head of Operations, Targeted Work
Email: Aminata.Swaray@lewisham.gov.uk

Youth forums

A youth forum is run and developed by young people for young people. Youth forums exist to represent the views of young people, giving them the opportunity to be heard on their ideas, opinions and needs. This creates a space where young people can discuss issues, engage with decision makers such as youth workers, our governance board and staff of other organisations, and contribute to improving and developing services for young people especially our own - Youth First.

Local Youth Forum meetings happen monthly or quarterly at each of our youth clubs and adventure playgrounds. These sessions are made up of 5-10 local young people each of whom are regular users of the service.

This is the platform where young people can make suggestions, changes and keep staff aware of what they feel are the needs for young people in their own locality. They can bring up any matters that they feel need to be discussed, for example accessing some additional support when they come to the Adventure Playground or Youth Club. Most things that are mentioned in this forum can be ongoing ideas that get implemented but the suggestion of shorter term projects and activities can also be discussed. 

Once a term, usually during the half-term break, we host a borough-wide Youth Forum meeting made up of young people who attend our provision across the Borough as well as the members of individual Local Youth Forums. During this meeting we focus on a relevant and topical issue, decided by young people, including input from partners. Recent topics have included social media, knife crime, health relationships and fundraising.

Our first ever Borough-wide Youth Forum trip took us to "Locked in a Room" where the young people had the opportunity to have fun together and be rewarded for their important contributions.

Here's what some of our staff have to say about the Youth Forum.

• “An opportunity to let young people know what’s happening” 
• “Youth Forums give young people a sense of belonging, challenges them to problem solve”
• “Allows YP to develop skills and get involved in things they can do later in life”
• “Be included and be a voice for YP that may not attend Youth Provision”  
• “Setting targets, achieving goals” 
• “Take ownership/ Give back to their community” 

At the Boroughwide you can expect to take part in activities, talk to specialist organisations and share ideas, knowledge and opinions with other young people.  You will also hear about organisation updates, opportunities and other projects in the Borough. 

Why join a youth forum?

• Gain/increase confidence
• Learn new skills
• Make a difference
• Build new relationships
• Add it to your CV/college applications/UCAS
• Be empowered and take a lead in decision making
• See your ideas come to life
• Earn rewards 
• Because it's fun!

How to join

Speak to a member of the team at your local youth club or adventure playground to sign up! (remember spaces are limited) 
Look out for the Youth Forum meeting poster to know when the next meeting is taking place.

Contact

Lauryn Yowa, Youth Voice Coordinator
Email: lauryn.yowa@lewisham.gov.uk