Charity Thanks Coronavirus Community Support Fund

Alder Hey Children’s Charity receives support from the Coronavirus Community Support Fund

Alder Hey Children’s Charity has received a generous grant from the government’s Coronavirus Community Support Fund. Distributed by The National Lottery Community Fund, this funding will allow us to deliver an Online Peer Support Programme with our CAMHS patients. This six-month project will support children and young people who are experiencing increased anxiety and mental health issues due to the pandemic to come together in virtual meeting ‘hubs’, reducing isolation and helping to improve their mental health.

Lisa Cooper, Director of Community and Mental Health Services at Alder Hey Children's Hospital explained why the project is so desperately needed at the current time: “The pandemic has put a huge strain on the mental health of many of our children and young people and referrals to CAMHS have increased significantly since March 2020. In fact, our Crisis Care team now offer a 24-hour service in order to provide support to children, young people and their families who are experiencing problems.

“The Alder Hey Online Peer Support Programme will provide a virtual ‘safe space’ where children and young people can share and explore common issues such as managing social distancing, maintaining friendships and future education anxieties, empowering them to manage uncertainty at this extremely challenging time. While it will be facilitated by a team of specialised mental health workers, all activities will be led by the ideas and needs of the children and young people taking part.”

Fiona Ashcroft, Chief Executive at Alder Hey Children’s Charity added: “We are so grateful to the government’s Coronavirus Community Support Fund for allowing us to deliver this new and innovative project with our CAMHS patients. It really will make a huge difference to the children and young people who take part, particularly as we go into the uncertain winter months ahead.”