A READING-BASED charity has been awarded £400,000 in funding from The National Lottery Community Fund to provide mental health support to young people in vulnerable situations.
No.5 Young People, which supports more than 800 people per year through schools, will use the funding to offer each individual with up to 20 free, specialist counselling sessions.
The service currently has a waiting list of almost 1,000 young people, and the grant will be used to expand its outreach by transitioning from volunteers to an in-house team of specialist youth counsellors, ensuring people across Reading can access support quickly.
No.5 Young People is the only free, self-referral service in the area which offers more than six sessions of counselling, helping to build long-term, meaningful relationships.
Alyson Wylding, director at No.5 Young People, said: “We are relieved to have been awarded this vital funding from The National Lottery Community Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we can pay for the delivery of 1,800 counselling sessions and support up to 120 people.
“It will also mean we can begin to reduce the waiting time for counselling, offering better support and resources for parents, carers and young people when they first contact us.
“This grant represents stability and consistency – elements which are crucial in the counselling relationship to support a young person being heard by a trusted, professional adult in a confidential space, whilst being able to offer the long-term support they need.”
The counselling service is one of almost 600 charities and community groups in the South East to have been awarded more than £24 million in National Lottery funding in the last four months.
Nationwide, almost £252 million has gone to more than 5,000 community groups in the same period of time.
Ryan, a 25-year-old who benefits from the service, said: “No.5 is a phenomenal service that truly works to ensure the best outcome for young people like myself.
“I had never felt as listened to and respected as I did when going through counselling, which allowed me to grow and transform into someone that now sees the brighter side of things and is capable of achieving all the goals I set for myself. No.5 gave me my life back and I will be forever grateful.”
The National Lottery Community Fund recently launched its new strategy, ‘It Starts with Community’, which will underpin its efforts to distribute at least £4 billion in funding by 2030.
Helen Bushell, head of regional funding for London, the South East and East of England at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “Thanks to the hard work and dedication of staff and volunteers, and National Lottery players, this grant will make a big difference to the wellbeing of young people and their families in Reading.
“We’re delighted our funding will be used to expand the service, supporting more young people in vulnerable situations and providing the vital support they need to enjoy happier, healthier lives.”
National Lottery players raise more than £30 million each week for good causes across the country. Last year, £615.4 million was given to communities.
