YPAS Successful In Securing Additional Mental Health Funding

YPAS has been successful in securing additional funding from the Department of Health and Social Care.

With this funding, thousands of children and young people will have earlier and easier access to mental health interventions at 24 hubs in local communities around the UK.

The hubs will have drop-in centres offering mental health support and advice to young people without a referral by a doctor or school. Services provided include group work, counselling, psychological therapies, specialist advice signposting to information and other services.

The government announced in October 2023 that £4.92 million would be available for 10 early support hubs. It is now providing an additional £3 million to expand the number of hubs to 24 across the country – ranging from Exeter to Liverpool.

• Extra funding for early support hubs to help children and young people receive better mental health support across the country.
• 24 hubs will receive a share of almost £8 million to help young people get support with their mental health at an earlier stage.
• Services include psychological therapies, specialist advice and wider issues which may affect a young person’s mental health, including sexual health, exam worries, jobs, drugs, alcohol and financial worries.

Monique Collier, CEO of the Young Persons Advisory Service (YPAS), said: “We at the Young Persons Advisory Service (YPAS) Liverpool are honoured to be chosen as one of the delivery partners for the one-year DHSC funding. This opportunity not only validates our nationally recognised Youth Information, Advice, and Counselling Services (YIACS) model but also reaffirms our dedication to enhancing the mental health and well-being of young people through early intervention and community support.

This is a testament to our collective dedication to ensuring accessible and inclusive support for young people across the country, whilst it supports the long-term plan and ambition of YIAC services led and governed by Youth Access as we continue to promote the strategic priorities of early intervention and prevention services in all communities across the country.

We are excited about this opportunity as we continue to make a positive impact on the lives of young people and look forward to continuing our efforts in collaboration with partners and stakeholders”.