New young people's mental health service to launch in Ludlow

From February, a fortnightly drop-in will be open at Ludlow Youth Centre for people up to the age of 25 to access advice and support from professionals and trained volunteers.

The project, Ludlow Young Health, has been set up by Ludlow Youth Partnership and the Children’s Society thanks to funding from a number of sources totalling £10,500 to secure its first year.

The project builds on the Children’s Society’s Beam projects currently underway in Shrewsbury and Wellington.

Tracey Huffer, chair of Ludlow Youth Partnership and Shropshire Councillor for Ludlow East, said: “This is the most important project for young people in this area since the Ludlow Youth Centre was built two decades ago. It breaks new ground.

“It is really difficult for young people to get access to mental health and wellbeing support in a small town like Ludlow. It can take weeks – even months – for a referral to the county’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

"Young people are often referred to Shrewsbury but many can’t or won’t travel that far. We need a service on our doorstep."

Councillor Huffer said the service is aimed at young people struggling with things like depression, their sexual identity, bullying or substance abuse. Local schools, GPs And volunteer groups are also on board.

“Our aim is not to provide treatment but to ensure that young people understand how to access the help and advice that is available," she said.

"It will be practical and therapeutic. We want to improve young people’s emotional wellbeing.

“We are the first market town in Shropshire to fund our own project with the Children’s Society. We are on a steep learning curve. But we have hopes that we can expand the project in the future.”

Rob Willoughby, area director for the Children’s Society, said: “The new mental health and emotional health drop in service in Ludlow working one afternoon a fortnight will give families and young people in the Ludlow area an opportunity to get immediate support for a young person.

"The Children’s Society is pleased to be working with Ludlow Youth Partnership to develop this new service.”

The project has been made possible thanks to funding from the town council, the mayor’s charity, Rotary, Shropshire Council and South Shropshire Housing Association, as well as support from Young Shropshire in Work, Shropshire Council’s Community Enablement Team and the Ludlow and Clee Local Joint Committee (LJC).

Town mayor Tim Gill said he was pleased to support the project as his chosen charity for the year.

“As we are all aware, the services for mental health for all ages is woefully inadequate, almost non-existent, in Ludlow," said Councillor Gill.

“The drop-in service will offer an open and accessible approach to providing therapeutic support. The sessions are drop-in to ensure we are as accessible as possible to the most vulnerable members of our society. We must thank our local sponsors who, without their support this service would not be possible."

Helen Vaughan from Connexus group, which includes South Shropshire Housing Association, said: “Though working closely within our communities, we have seen a dramatic increase in the need for support for individuals with mental health needs. This has also increased within the younger generation. We are so pleased to be supporting this service within Ludlow."

The drop-in will be open fortnightly on Wednesdays from 3pm to 7pm, starting on February 6.

Announcing the project's launch at a meeting of the Ludlow and Clee LJC, Councillor Huffer said she hoped to see it grow in time to include a wealth of support services like housing, sexual health and employment.

She said: "Mental health is just the starting point. This is a massive project for Ludlow and we are so excited about it. It is what our young people need and what they deserve."