£150k for Wolverhampton youth community scheme

Lottery funding is being ploughed into the city through the HeadStart programme.

If the pilot projects are successful then Wolverhampton could be in line for up to a £10m share of a £75million national pot.

Theatre, bike, arts and radio projects are among the initiatives being trialled to engage youngsters.

Among the schemes, youth radio station KIC FM will run media projects talking about mental health issues, while Wolverhampton's LGBT network will train school staff to challenge homophobia.

Wolverhampton's youth offending team will work with youngsters who have committed low-level crimes and Gazebo Theatre Company in Bilston is to run a creative art therapy programme.

Edward the Elder Primary School in Wednesfield and Penn Fields School in Penn will offer sessions for parents and pupils from some of Wolverhampton's most vulnerable families.

The council was given £500,000 by the Big Lottery Fund last year to set up a series of projects.

A Dragon's Den-style panel was then set up establish the best schemes.

The council estimates there are thousands of 10-14 year olds who are at risk of poor mental health because of issues including deprivation, unemployment, poverty, bullying, low self-esteem and substance misuse.

Children and families chief, Councillor Val Gibson, said: "We had a tremendous response to our appeal for local organisations to play a part in our HeadStart programme, and I am sure that the schemes which have been commissioned will have a real impact in terms of improving the lives of our young people.

"Too few young people who need help when they feel they can't cope with issues affecting them actually receive it before it begins to affect their health and wellbeing.

"We want to change that and ensure that the support they need is available – and that young people feel able to ask for it.

"This is a great opportunity to help young people in Wolverhampton and I am looking forward to seeing the results of the various projects that are taking place around the city."

The local authority is already piloting a number of support services and interventions, like peer mentoring, training, online information and therapy portals, community and family support and providing places for young people to go to for help and support.

The project began last April and saw youngsters gave a presentation of their hopes and fears for the future and share personal stories of overcoming issues of self-harm, depression and isolation.

They then worked with professionals to develop models showing how the HeadStart service could look in Wolverhampton, tackling the stigma which surrounds mental health problems.