One in six school-aged children has a mental health problem and yet there is an average 10-year delay between young people displaying first symptoms and getting help.
Centre for Mental Health 2021
Matrix intervenes early to provide personalised support for young people when life gets tough. We nurture young people so they’re not left socially excluded or left behind by their vulnerabilities. Through a variety of early intervention and prevention projects, we listen to young people, helping them learn to look after and improve their mental health and emotional wellbeing and build their resilience.
"My youth worker showed me breathing things that I can do when I get panic attacks"
Young Person
School-based Mental Health First Aid trained Youth Workers provide regular support to young people who are struggling with life, for as long as they need it. The format is relaxed, with a priority on building a relationship of trust and acceptance between the youth worker and the young person. Each 30-45 minute session focuses on listening to the young person and will often include playing a game or doing craft to break the ice. The team are trained to ask questions that draw out issues the young people are dealing with, teaching them techniques to help them through their issues, and where necessary signposting them to more specialised support.
Group settings are a really effective way to develop young people’s emotional literacy skills, help them to better identify or articulate their emotions and learn how to manage them. Used as a preventative tool or to intervene early when concerns first arise, young people learn practical strategies of how to manage their feelings outside of the session and are taught the importance of talking about their feelings with others.
We offer 6-week workshop programmes on friendship, anxiety and anger management in school settings, but can also offer adhoc group work for arising issues either in school or at The Youth Hideaway.
As part of the Surrey Wellbeing Partnership, our team of Wellbeing Practitioners nurture 8 to 18 year olds within the community. This service gives children and young people a central voice in decisions about their care and recovery, offering choice about their options, and more opportunities to access a range of services in different ways.
A needs-led, relational service, young people can be referred by community agencies such as GPs or social workers, or by parents, or even young people themselves. We help them to identify outcomes they want to achieve and, together with their Wellbeing Practitioner, they work together to achieve this.
This looks different for every young person, but may include: one-to-one sessions, group work, engaging them in other Matrix projects, wider interventions with parents or their families, or helping them to access support from a specialised service.
With no time limit on how long we work with a young person, we can move forward at the young person’s pace. Our team is trained to work with those who need support to overcome issues such as anxiety, stress, self harm, eating disorders and isolation.
‘School transitions can negatively affect pupils’ social, emotional and academic outcomes’ resulting in ‘lesser school engagement, lower academic attainment, reduced confidence and self-esteem, and increased anxiety, feelings of loneliness and conduct problems’ (UCL, Institute of Health Equity)
Our Transition Coaching programme provides the most at-risk Year 6 children with a trained volunteer coach to walk alongside them through this season. Identified by their Year 6 teachers, we first meet them with their families after Easter. After taking some time to get to know them our coaches take them through a programme which builds their emotional literacy and readiness for secondary school. This relationship continues into Year 7 at their secondary school, for up to 12 months.
My friends all wish they could see someone like you
Year 6 Student
Did you know it’s ok to feel low? But you don’t have to. Click the link below to get support. We would love to help.
Would you like to meet some new friendly people? Check out the Youth Hideaway. Click the link below to find out more.
Well then you have come to the right place. We have all kinds of opportunities for young people to get into work.
Looking for something to do or just fancy a new challenge? We run a variety of workshops just for you.
Our support hub is dedicated to providing a safe and nurturing space for individuals seeking support with their wellbeing.
Whether you’re searching for yourself or a young person, you can find resources which will enable you to find the right type of support you are looking for.
MATRIX
The Matrix Trust, Allen House Pavilion, Eastgate Gardens, Guildford, GU1 4AZ
Tel: +44 (0) 1483 574900
Registered Charity Number: 1081852
Company Number: 03977050