Children's mental health charity with Crewe office thanks the Co-op for funding boost
The Crewe charity Visyon have helped thousands of Cheshire children over the last 28 years
By Alex Greensmith
Posted: Monday, 27th February 2023 3:38 pm
A children's mental health charity with an office south of the town centre is to receive thousands of pounds from the Co-op.
Visyon, who have an office in Breeden House on Brook Street in Crewe next to Style Counsel, have been helping mental health of young people since 1994.
On average, they help 29 kids and young adults from Crewe with their mental health each month.
And Co-op Members in Crewe can raise money for the good cause by simply buying their groceries.
Crewe Nub News met with the charity - who also have a site in Congleton - to find out about what they'll spend the Co-op money on.
"Visyon supports the mental health and emotional wellbeing of children, young people and their families," said Fundraising and Marketing Manager Linda de Sá.
"We do this by developing practical strategies through emotional support, individual counselling, group therapy, mentoring, creative activities and wellbeing workshops.
"Young people come to us with anxiety, stress, low mood, anger, self-harm and thoughts of suicide.
"We have people who are struggling with bereavement, abuse, neglect, illness, bullying, family circumstances and/or the effects of poverty. Anything that can have an impact on their day-to-day life can affect a child and we're here for them.
"To give an idea of the scale of how many people we help, from April 2022 to December 2022, we helped 234 children from Crewe, and that doesn't include a further 609 across Cheshire East in that same period."
Visyon has ten therapy rooms across its two sites in Congleton and Crewe, offering support to children and young people experiencing challenging times.
They have been a safe and reliable space for vulnerable children to go to seek support and advice since 1994. Visyon also hold workshops that parents can attend, to best understand what their children are going through, with topics from sexuality to suicide.
The frequency of these sessions has increased since the pandemic, as has their support in schools from Visyon's Education Team delivering training and support to staff and parents.
They've also seen the average age of service users come down, meaning more younger children need their help than ever before.
"We're proud as an organisation of our 'Open Access' service which ensures, after an initial assessment, that a young person is seen within ten days," revealed Linda.
"But what we are seeing sadly even from those first consultations is that a lot of them are dealing with self-harm.
"We're here as a service and never say no to anyone, even if that means referring families to other experts for things we don't cover.
"To any parents or children who may feel they need our help, please give us a call, we know it's a big step to take but you're not alone in how you're feeling and we can help,
"We provide a free service for children living or going to school across Cheshire East. Don't be scared to get in touch. In the rare instance we can't help, we can signpost you to someone who can.
"We are trying to be that visible beating heart of the community so that people can see and know that we're here to help.
The charity was founded amid tragic circumstances, where three young Congleton residents took their own life, and the founding family saw a gap in the support that could have helped their daughter.
A few years later, Visyon set up a second office in Crewe. Crewe Nub News estimates suggest the free service holds as many as 7,971 sessions per year.
"It is great to help as many people that need it as possible. But with more demand, comes more funding needs," Linda also said.
"Our funding is split into two parts. There's funding from councils and schools, which is about half what we currently get.
"Our costs have increased over the last few years due to increased demand and the current cost of living crisis meaning we need to raise £990,000.
"Visyon has been reliant on statutory funding, trusts and foundations, and it is now time to start diversifying that funding further within the local community so the Local Community Fund from the Co-op partnership has come at a great time to raise this awareness.
"The Co-op money will go directly towards delivering our essential service to vulnerable children, young people and their families from counselling through to workshops. So Co-op Members can know that the money they have raised is going to help local children.
"Thank you to any Co-op Member who chooses money donated from their shopping to go to us, it makes such a difference.
"We've been a Co-op cause before so we know about the difference the funding can make, and we have loved working with them.
"At the moment around £65 can cover a counselling session, and it doesn't take long to raise that much by scanning your Co-op card when you shop.
"And we wouldn't be able to empower young people at all without donations and fundraising schemes such as this."
When you buy selected Co-op branded products and services, 2p for every pound spent goes to you and the Co-op gives the same to local communities.
It doesn't cost you a penny to raise money for local causes, just become a Co-op Member and shop as you please.
Just make sure you select Visyon on the Co-op app if you want your money to go to them!
Crewe: Become a Co-op member today online at this webpage or in-store.
Crewe: You can also show Visyon some support by giving them a like on Facebook.
They are not the only Crewe-based cause Co-op Members can raise money for this year.
Visyon are joined by Crewe Clean Team, Hope + Coffee, and Men in Sheds.
Click on this link to find out more about the Local Community Fund.
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