Achieve, Change, Engagement (ACE) supports young people aged 10 to 25 to improve their mental health and emotional wellbeing and to build resilience. In the last three years there has been a 50% increase in the number of young people with identified mental health conditions in England (The Children’s Society). Since Covid, there has been a national increase in domestic violence and abuse (social Care Institute for Excellence).

Lancashire has one of the highest rates of young people with mental illness in England (Quality and Outcomes Framework 2019 to 2020). The number of referrals to ACE has doubled since the start of Covid. ACE’s currently priority is to reach the neediest young people quicker and to be able to move them on faster.

This project will enable ACE to recruit and embed a cognitive behavioral therapist to work with young people and to provide increased clinical supervision to staff and volunteers. Cognitive behavioral therapy has been shown to be very effective in reducing anxiety and relieving symptoms of low mood. ACE works in community venues and GPs’ surgeries in the most deprived areas to allow easy access to the service. The organisation also operates by phone, zoom and online to ensure availability for those most in need.