Mental health charity Response launches children’s Wellbeing Hub in Thatcham

A new children’s mental health service – caring for youngsters as young as 11 – has already met with 23 young people in its first weeks of opening.

Officials say the number of families to have sought help from the new Youth Wellbeing Hub in Thatcham in just six weeks shows there is a ‘clear and growing demand’ for early mental health support in West Berkshire.

Leading mental health charity Response has launched the service at its newly-refurbished Carramar site.

Designed to be youth-led and non-clinical, the Hub aims to relieve the pressure on schools and community services and help reduce NHS waiting times by offering early help to children, teenagers and their families in a safe and inclusive space.

While the Hub will officially open on Friday, October 3, 23 local children have already benefited from its expertise thanks to a soft launch of services this summer.

Jamie Douglas, associate director of children, young people and families at Response, said: “We’ve seen first-hand how vital this Hub is to the young people and families in Thatcham.

“This is more than just a service, it’s a lifeline.

“We’re proud of what we’ve achieved with one dedicated keyworker so far, but we know the demand is growing and schools are asking for more support.

“With additional funding and community backing, we can extend our reach and ensure no young person feels alone in their mental health journey.”

The Hub will be offering a variety of services including after school drop-ins, one-to-one support and family sessions.

All activities will be designed to empower young people and create community connections while reducing the stigma that can exist around mental health issues.

Response, which was founded more than 60 years ago, is a charity dedicated to transforming lives through mental health support and housing, offering care to people aged eight to over 80 across Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.