We’ve joined more than 50 organisations in calling for a nationwide network of hubs to provide early support for young people’s mental health.

Our Chair Natalie Bailey co-signed a letter which has been published in the Daily Telegraph urging the government to invest in early mental health support in the upcoming Spending Review.

The letter is part of the Fund the Hubs Campaign, which we’re supporting.

The campaign was launched by Youth Access in partnership with YoungMinds, Mind, The Children’s Society and the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition.

The letter states that the pandemic has left services significantly overstretched, with fewer than 40 per cent of those under the age of 17 with a mental health condition are able to access NHS help.

“This is why we are calling on the Government to invest in a national network of early support hubs to provide easy-to-access, drop-in care, on a self-referral basis,” it says.

“Providing such support would ensure that a young person does not need to reach crisis point before they get help, and would also reduce pressure on NHS services. Hubs have been proven to work, both in other countries and parts of Britain.”