Commenting on being awarded the grant, John Randall ESY’s Fundraiser said “On behalf of the charity and our young people, we are absolutely delighted to receive this generous grant which recognises the vital work we undertake in supporting the mental health of young people in Sompting and Lancing. “

John continues, “As the latest NHS figures show, the number of young people trying to access mental health services is at a record high. The grant from SBL will allow up to 40 young people, aged 11-18 to access a high-quality emergency mental health service. This can be either through one-to-one clinical intervention mental health sessions for young people provided through Your Space Therapies based at the Sir Robert Woodard Academy, or mental health well-being early intervention drop-in sessions delivered by our Senior Youth Work Manager and one of our youth workers.

In awarding the grant, SBL said, “Sompting Big Local Partnership are aware of the increasing need to support young people, particularly with their mental health. We know the effects of the lockdowns during the pandemic are only really being felt now, and with stretched services, it was great to see the project between Electric Storm Youth and Your Space Therapies providing high-level clinical interventions. We are delighted to be able to support this project with funding and support young people with their mental health.”

John concludes, “We believe our mental health services will help to build resilience, confidence and overall well-being of young people and equip them to cope with the stresses that live brings. It will lead to confident young people, willing to engage positively within the local community.”

For further information about Electric Storm Youth, visit www.electricstormyouth.co.uk

 ENDS

About Electric Storm Youth

Founded in 2007, Electric Storm Youth (ESY) is a youth work charity based in Lancing, West Sussex. We run a full range of youth-based programmes, including young carers support, mental health counselling, general youth sessions, LGBTQ+ sessions, street-based (detached) youth work, mentoring and work-experience.

ESY currently support around 200 young people by working to improve their personal and social development, teaching them new skills, and improving the quality of their lives.

The charity’s main challenge is the increasing demand for its services, especially from the more marginalised groups such as young carers and those with mental health problems.

For more information, visit www.electricstormyouth.co.uk

About Sompting Big Local

Sompting Big Local is funded through the Big Local initiative. This is radically different from any other funding programmes.

At the heart of Big Local is a vision of empowered, resilient, dynamic, asset-rich communities making their own decisions on what is best for their area.

Sompting Big Local is a partnership of Local residents who have volunteered to help steer the project.

Sompting Big Local is supported by Community Works. Their role is to administer and account for the distribution of the funding, support our worker and members of the partnership.

For more information, visit www.somptingbiglocal.org.uk