DHSC Funding to support children and young people's mental health in Hillingdon
Hillingdon’s children and young people are to benefit from the £3.3 million Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) investment in preventative mental health services.
The successful bid submitted by national charity P3 in partnership with Hillingdon CCG will redevelop the P3 Navigator Hub located in Yiewsley into a new Navigator Plus.
The Navigator Plus will offer instant access to mental health and wellbeing support for young people aged 13-25. This one stop shop will support young people in Hillingdon to thrive through their transition into adulthood, supporting their emotional, mental and physical wellbeing.
By working alongside young people, the Navigator Plus will enable them to overcome any personal mental health challenges and lead more fulfilling lives. Services will be person-led, delivered at the young person’s pace, when and how they decide, enabling them to achieve positive change.
P3 CEO Mark Simms stated:
“This funding recognises the importance of local services using their expertise to innovate and reshape mental health support. Children and young people experience so many pressures as they grow into adulthood—social, emotional, physical—that equipping them with effective tools to manage their own mental health has to be a priority. By working together with Hillingdon CCG, P3 will be able to offer young people access to quality mental health support right in the heart of their own community—this is a service that will deliver a positive and meaningful impact. ”
Dr Ian Goodman, NHS Hillingdon Clinical Commissioning Group Chair stated:
“The CCG are delighted by the outcome of the joint bid and look forward to working with P3 to improve access for children and young people. The funds will enable P3 and the CCG to improve access to emotional and wellbeing services and specialist services. We have long recognised the importance and benefits these services have for people and working with P3 we will reduce waiting times, which will further enhance people’s experience and outcomes, now and in the future.”
The P3 Navigator Hub currently provides a drop-in service for young people in crisis and offers advice on range of areas including homelessness, unemployment, physical and mental health and domestic abuse.
P3 and Hillingdon CCG are one of only 23 projects UK-wide to be selected by the DHSC to receive this funding to help prevent mental illness.
The funding will come from the Health and Wellbeing Fund, part of a programme of government investment in the voluntary sector. The project will be fully funded through the scheme in its first year and additional joint funding from local commissioners will be agreed for the two following years.
More information on the transformation of mental health services is available through the NHS Long Term Plan.
