Off the Record (Bristol)
Health
We provide free mental health care to young people. Our project is for young people questioning their gender identity & sexual orientation.
About this cause
Off the Record (Bristol) provide mental health services to young people (11 - 25 years old) in Bristol and South Gloucestershire. Open since 1965 we have grown to providing a number of different services, including: 1-1 counselling, specialist youth work and training. What is key is that all our services are free at every point of access this is especially important as poor mental health is directly linked to deprivation. Every year we support over 5,000 young people with a wide range of issues. The most common include: self-harm, suicide, depression, anxiety, abuse, anger, family breakdown and eating disorders. We are proud to change live, for example service user feedback: ‘The best thing I could possibly have been persuaded to try. The sessions have unquestionably changed my life.’
How this cause brings people in the community together
Freedom is a specialist service that enables young people to explore their sexuality and gender identity in a safe and supportive space. OTR aims to develop positive mental health for young people in a broader social context and Freedom forms part of our targeted youth work. Freedom runs a weekly drop in sessions and has developed very rapidly over the last 18 months with 71 people signed up with regular attendance of 35- 40 people. The project aims to empower young people to be self-sustaining rather than dependent on treatment services through a process of information and education, peer support, role modelling and champions. A one to one counselling service is available on the day for those who want extra support and other services frequently come along with information and advice.