1.2 million thank you’s for Big Lottery Fund for Rethink young
The leading mental health charity Rethink today (17 January) received £1.2 million from the Big Lottery Fund for a ground-breaking mental health project working with young people that will be delivered jointly with the charity YoungMinds.The new project, called the Recovery Learning Project, aims to reach young people aged between 14 and 25. Rethink will deliver the only residential recovery learning programme for young people experiencing a mental illness in England. Young Minds will provide an after-school programme for young people aged 14 and 18, covering issues around the prevention of mental illness and early intervention.
Rethink’s Director of Public Affairs Paul Corry said: “We are delighted to have funding for this innovative and exciting project that will get young people with mental health problems help early on. It will provide young people and their families with the practical information and support they need for a meaningful quality of life.”
Barbara Herts, chief executive of YoungMinds said: "This is an outstanding project, with young people at its heart. The grant gives YoungMinds and Rethink an opportunity to really transform the lives, futures and ambitions of young people by reaching them and supporting them at the earliest possible stage."
Rethink’s residential recovery programme of activities will build self-esteem and peer support for people aged between 19 and 25 who have experienced a first episode of psychosis or are carers. The programme will also target young offenders with mental health problems and, in particular, those with experience of living in care, and young people from BME communities.
YoungMinds will lead on the delivery of a six week after school programme for young people aged 14-18, covering issues such as prevention of mental illness and early intervention. Peer support will be used to build trust and confidence. Young people will be able to learn new skills and will target those who have recovered from a first episode of psychosis or have recently been discharged from hospital.
Notes to editors
About Rethink
Rethink, registered as the National Schizophrenia Felllowship, the leading national mental health membership charity, works to help everyone affected by severe mental illness recover a better quality of life. We aim to provide hope and empowerment through effective services and support to all those who need us and campaign for change through greater awareness and understanding. For further information on the charity and its work, continue to browse this site or call 0845 456 0455. For mental health publications and products, visit the Mental Health Shop: www.mentalhealthshop.org
About YoungMinds
YoungMinds is the national mental health charity for children's mental health and offers considerable expertise in running national programmes of research, consultancy and training concerning children and young people's mental health. All of its research activities are underpinned by the active involvement of young people themselves and recently, YoungMinds has been working across the country to champion service user involvement and participation in CAMHS and the needs of young people making the transition to adult independence. Visit the YoungMinds website: http://www.youngminds.org.uk.
