What is the challenge your project is going to address and how does it connect to the theme of 'How can improvement be used to reduce delays accessing health and care services'?

There is huge demand for youth mental health and wellbeing services in Bordon. Whilst the regeneration project is growing the town, services and opportunities for people remain limited. Minimal transport links also make it difficult for youths and families to access services to support their wellbeing and there is little awareness from the public of what local services are currently available. This along with rising cases of school refusal due to mental health issues e.g. anxiety are impacting on the referrals to our team. The project aims to address this and help reduce delays to accessing health care services by providing an informal, youth health and wellbeing drop-in centre in Bordon. Where access to information and support can be instant and preventative opportunities can be put into place to support local youths before needing to be referred to other services such as counselling and CAMHS. This is a pilot project.

What does your project aim to achieve?

In line with East Hampshire Welfare and Wellbeing Strategy 2020 – 2024 we aim to improve the Welfare and Wellbeing of youths by lowering rates of obesity and reducing the number of hospital admissions for self-harm. Within and around wards between 21.6% – 25.9% have a higher level of physical inactivity and 30% of youths from age 11+ are overweight. Hospital Admissions for self-harm in children aged 10 – 24 in our areas are also particularly high.  With the East Hampshire waiting list for CAMHS currently at a minimum of 18 months and demand for intervention showing no signs of decreasing, we will be able to offer young people with mental health concerns early prevention services and fill this gap. For example, opportunities tailored to their needs to increase physical activity, develop self-care and relieve careers/learning anxiety. Thus, alleviating pressure and demand for the reactive service provided by CAMHS in the future. Please note that this is a pilot project.

How will the project be delivered?

The project will be delivered via establishing a community face to face service for the PCN youth health and wellbeing team at a designated centre place in the town. Information from current patients will be explored so that local youths help to create and support the service and ensure that facilities/equipment that they are interested are put into place. We want to create a safe place where they can be themselves, talk to someone, make friends, have fun and possibly have some youth’s joining in with supporting the services offered to build resilience and self-esteem. There will be direct access to health and wellbeing coaches on site as well, who can provide support in groups or 1:1 and help encourage children to feel confident in managing themselves and their own life journey. The environment will be a safe, informal place to come and have instant access to our team.

How is your project going to share learning?

An action plan will be put in place, reviewed and amended with input from youth focus groups. Learning will be shared via presentations about the success of the project to other health care professionals as well as sharing with wider members of the public who interact with youth’s e.g. links with schools and parents. We are also planning on asking the Youths to support in the design of our website/social media for East Hants PCN, creating a platform where they can share their own learnings and add relevant links to support service that have helped them. Linking with local community/youth groups to find out what works well and where we need to improve on will happen on a regular basis. The outcomes will also be used to provide an overall assessment and show what activities have been beneficial and had the most impact to continue moving forward.