Project supporting mental health of children in Horsham gets extra counselling launched in schools

The Together in Horsham webinar was celebrated as an evening of hope and positivity as school, church and community leaders came together to help make a difference to the lives of local children.

The partnership between the Horsham Schools Partnership, the West Horsham Schools Network, Horsham Churches Together and Fegans has resulted in additional BACP-qualified counselling being launched in schools.

The project is half funded by Government Emergency Covid funds, with schools in Horsham and surrounding villages funding one quarter, and churches and the community fundraising the remaining quarter of the £12,000 target.

Rosemary Counchman, Horsham Churches Together development co-ordinator, said: “We are asking the community to come together to help us raise the remaining £5,750 for the project.

“No child should have to struggle with their emotional pain. Your donation will help provide therapeutic support to every vulnerable family in Horsham that needs it. All money raised will pay for professional one to one counselling in schools.”

Speakers at the event included Dr Tim Fooks, High Sheriff of West Sussex; Trevor Cristin, Diocese of Chichester director of education; Horsham headteachers, Susan Costa (All Saint’s CE Primary School) and Alex Bird (St Mary’s CE Primary School); Fegans chief executive, Ian Soars, and head of partnerships, Tia Barham; and Clive Urquhart, moderator of Horsham Churches Together.

Dr Tim Fooks reminded the audience that one in eight children have a diagnosable mental health disorder (Public Health England, 2018) and commended the project, commenting that it was a good way of supporting communities to ensure they are strong and thriving.

Trevor Cristin welcomed the trailblazing project in the Diocese of Chichester, commenting that the project is a fantastic example of really good partnership and proactive working, which he would like to see expanded across West Sussex.

Susan Costa and Alex Bird, who initiated the project, celebrated the launch of Together in Horsham which will help many children and young people in schools across Horsham and surrounding villages.

Ian Soars shared that the ambitious Together in Horsham project is designed to help children who are facing issues which are new to this era.

He introduced a young child actor who told a real-life story of someone who had been helped by a Fegans counsellor, followed by a lively questions and answers session with the panel.

Clive Urquhart explained the churches’ involvement in the project and that it was a way of churches reaching out in a practical way to support the mental health of children in their communities.

He invited the community to partner in the project prayerfully and by contributing funds.

To donate to the project, click here.

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