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Two leading UK charities have joined forces to address the pressing gap in support for children and young people affected by disasters.
The National Emergencies Trust and The King’s Trust (formerly Prince’s Trust) announced the unique new partnership, which will see a dedicated package of support offered to 16-30 year-olds across the UK, to develop their confidence, resilience and overall wellbeing during future emergencies via the King’s Trust’s Team and Explore programmes.
Together these encompass one-to-one support for individuals with complex needs, through to structured volunteering programmes, to help overcome the challenges they face and set them on a positive path.
‘Concerning gap in support’
The partnership responds to findings from the National Emergencies Trust’s 2023 Bee The Difference report, in collaboration with Lancaster University and young survivors of the 2017 Manchester Arena attack. The report revealed a concerning gap in support for children and young people following the incident: only 5% of respondents found their initial support helpful, while 29% never received any professional support.
Bee The Difference highlighted the need to make a wider range of mental health support services available to children and young people after disasters so that they are empowered to choose the right support for them. It also pointed to the value of peer support and relationship-building, both of which will be central to the King’s Trust’s programmes.
Outside of emergencies the two charities will collaborate on strategic projects to reduce the risk factors that affect young people’s mental health; and further enhance the support that can be made available to young people during future disasters.
Findings from the King’s Trust Youth Index 2024, an annual report conducted by You Gov, reinforce why these efforts to make progress now ahead of future emergencies will be vital. It reveals that one in five young people have missed school or work in the past year due to their mental health, and one in five say their mental health has worsened in the past year.
“We know from our Bee The Difference work that disasters can affect children and young people very differently to adults, and that the support that’s made available to them doesn’t always acknowledge this.
“Partnering with the King’s Trust is an incredible opportunity not just to diversify the support that’s on offer in future disasters, but to support wider UK resilience-building efforts. Together our charities can work to address the risk factors that affect young people’s mental health and wellbeing year-round, and which can be exacerbated during traumatic events.”
Mhairi Sharp, CEO of National Emergencies Trust
The National Emergencies Trust’s National Charitable Partners programme enables a rapid response to needs that are not able to be met locally following a national disaster. This may include offering specialist knowledge and services or ensuring that support is available for people wherever they are based, such as through emergency telephone helplines. The King’s Fund joins a diverse range of other organisations, including Age UK, British Red Cross, Comic Relief, Shelter and Refuge and more.
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