IN BRIEF
LIVERPOOL SEAFARERS
CENTRE NAMED THE
WORLD’S BEST
ADDITIONAL MENTAL
HEALTH SUPPORT FOR
SCHOOLS ACROSS WIRRAL
Young people in Wirral will soon receive enhanced mental
health and wellbeing support in schools and colleges
following the announcement of new NHS funding.
Ecumenical charity Liverpool Seafarers Centre (LSC)
has been crowned the world’s best seafarer centre at an
awards ceremony held as part of London International
Shipping Week.
The charity, based in Eastham, was singled out by the International
Seafarer Welfare Awards due to the exceptional care it offers visiting
seafarers and their families. LSC finished top ahead of seafarer centres
in America in Houston and Philadelphia as well as Sydney Australia
and Tauranga, New Zealand.
Feedback from judges and those who use the centre described it as a
'home from home' staffed by the friendliest volunteers who go above
and beyond and expect nothing in return. The Seafarer Centre of the
Year is voted for by seafarers, 50,000 of whom use the centre’s services
every year. This includes providing emotional support, including
offering a clinical psychologist, for those where life has become too
difficult to handle in normal talks. It also offers practical assistance
such as access to WIFI, money exchange and a physical base on land
for crew members whose vessels have docked in the city.
LSC chief executive John Wilson collected the award during a
ceremony at the Inmarsat Building on September 11th attended by
representatives of seafarer centres from around the world. The charity
has been shortlisted for the award on previous occasions but has
never been named the winner, which comes during the year of its
tenth anniversary.
For further information on LSC's work, to donate or become a
volunteer contact John Wilson:
Tel: 0300 800 8085
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.liverpoolseafarerscentre.org
8 wirrallife.com
As part of NHS England’s national investment into young people’s
mental health services, a partnership between local mental health
provider CWP and Wirral Health and Care Commissioning (including
Education) has been successful in a bid for additional funding to
develop new Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) across Wirral.
The programme includes just under a £1million funding invested
into local mental health provision and aims for Wirral MHSTs to be
established by September 2020 in pilot schools.
MHSTs will deliver immediate advice and early intervention on mild
to moderate mental health and emotional wellbeing issues, such
as anxiety, behavioural difficulties or friendship issues, as well as
providing help to staff within a school and college setting. The teams
will act as a link with local children and young people’s mental health
services and be supervised by NHS staff.
Sheena Cumiskey, CWP Chief Executive, said: “I’m delighted that,
together with our local partners, we’ve been able to secure additional
funding to support the mental health and wellbeing of young people
in our communities. We know that 50% of mental health problems
are established by age 14, and a key part of the NHS Long Term Plan
is embedding mental health support in schools and colleges. It’s
wonderful to see health and education experts coming together to
ensure our young people can receive the right support in the right
place at the right time.”
Simon Banks, Chief Officer, Wirral Health and Care Commissioning
said: “A key part of Wirral’s approach to supporting the emotional
health and wellbeing of children and young people is to build
resilience and address mental health concerns before they become
severe. The investment in Mental Health Support Teams in schools will
enable more children to receive support and will help prevent mental
health problems developing. This collaboration between schools, local
authority and the NHS is a great example of Wirral’s focus on joint-
working between agencies and reflects the wider partnership approach
of Wirral Health & Care Commissioning.”