BLAKE: 5th Anniversary of Making a Difference

Ticket proceeds have also helped support YANA, a registered charity that promotes mental health awareness amongst those involved in farming and other rural businesses in Norfolk.

Farming or working in the countryside is usually a good way of life but it is a demanding and stressful occupation, and so it’s not surprising that many people involved with agriculture can feel isolated, depressed or unable to cope as well as normal. YANA work to provide confidential support and counselling, build understanding of mental health and invest in Mental Health First Aid training and suicide prevention.

Norwich-based charity Eating Matters received several grants to provide additional counselling sessions for young people who are finding it difficult to move on with their recovery from eating disorder behaviours. They support those with mild to moderate eating disorders.

Case Study

S, age 15, came to Eating Matters after a recommendation from the hospital. They had been struggling for some time with extreme food restriction, low mood and episodes of self harm. 

Over several months, S attended regular sessions and engaged really well. The counselling focused on helping them understand their feelings, build confidence, feel more comfortable in their own body and explore difficulties within their family relationships. Gradually, S’s relationship with food improved, their mood lifted and they began to feel more hopeful. By the end of therapy, they had not self harmed for six months and no longer felt suicidal.

S said: “I have been able to wear more clothes that show my body without worrying. I have also been more able to express myself and feel more comfortable in myself. What has been helpful about your counselling: It was nice to have someone to talk to who I felt could understand what I meant.”

Caring Together received funding to help deliver workshops to young carers in Norfolk, an often overlooked group who on average go at least four years before anyone offers any help.

Across the UK, it is estimated that there are up to one million young carers. Young carers are people under 18 who help look after someone in their family, or a friend, who has a mental illness, physical ailment, disability, or addiction. In Norfolk, it is estimated that there are over 6,000 young carers, but with many flying under the radar, the real number of this ‘hidden health service’ is likely to be much higher. When help is finally offered, young carers are often already struggling to cope, falling behind at school, becoming more socially isolated, or not being able to look after their own mental health. Caring for a relative can be overwhelming and stressful for young carers. In addition to the demanding responsibilities, they also worry about the health and wellbeing of their loved one.

Case Study

Thanks to a grant from the Rose Berney Memorial Fund, Caring Together were able to deliver sessions focused on giving young carers in Norfolk an opportunity to focus on their own mental health and wellbeing, providing many with a rare opportunity for them to self reflect. Activities delivered included yoga, a sound bath, mindfullness colouring, wellbeing performance sessions, practical stress relieving activities and active listening themed discussions.

Caring Together supported N, a young adult carer who cares for their Mum who has relapsing-remitting MS.

N has struggled for a long time with their mental health which was exacerbated by their dad dying when they were 12 years old. N ended up in a mental health hospital when they were 13 due to depression, and didn’t receive support as a young carer until age 15 when they were referred into Carers Matter Norfolk by their sister’s primary school.

N then received support from MTM Youth Services and was referred to Norfolk Young Carers Forum, which is supported by Caring Together. Since joining, N has attended many sessions and attended a trip to London. N quickly became a pivotal member of the group, sharing their views and opinions and supporting other young carers to do the same. Caring Together referred N to take part in the Princes Trust ‘Teams’ programme, which N feels helped them to be a better person, to be less judgemental and to consider what they want to do in the future.

Although N made strong developments through this support network, mental health challenges and depression continued to be challenges for N to manage. Through Caring Together’s mental health and wellbeing session, N has identified ways to manage their wellbeing effectively and uses this to recognise triggers for their depression. In particular, sound baths made such a difference for N that they have spoken about wanting to looks at ways that they can demonstrate this to others in the future. The tools and techniques learnt through the sessions have support N’s positive transition into work, where they now work for a local organisation supporting people with a learning disability in the community. N had a focused goal of wanting to move into paid work and the ability to manage their pre-existing depression has meant that work is even more manageable than it would have been. They have also set up their own self-employed business in the beauty industry that has been made possible through improved confidence and the ability to manage their business.

The Rose Berney Memorial Fund has also partnered with the Sir Norman Lamb Coalition for Young People to distribute vital funding out to local groups.

The Coalition is a network of 60+ Norfolk-based VCSE organisations supporting over 10,000 children and young people, helping strengthen existing services and encourage and promote innovation through access to shared resources and opportunities. In early 2024, the Rose Berney Memorial Fund supported the Coalition’s dedicated annual funding programme through grants totalling £35,000. One of the projects supported in the round was The Norwich Centre’s Youth Connect programme, providing a dedicated counselling service to 18-25 year olds.

This new counselling service designed to reach young people who often struggle to access support. The team worked with around 30 specialist organisations, creating effective referral routes and establishing a fully operational service within a few months. By March the project was running at full capacity, offering 20 counselling sessions each week and supported over 80 young people over a year.