The Place2Be

The Place2Be is a school-based counselling service, dedicated to improving the emotional wellbeing of children, their families and the whole school community. It was established in 1994 in response to increasing concern about the extent and depth of emotional and behavioural difficulties displayed in classrooms and playgrounds. Children today have all sorts of worries from friendships to bereavement, domestic violence, gang culture or crime. By giving children the chance to explore their problems through talking, creative work and play, the Place2Be enable them to cope now and make better-informed decisions about their lives and help prevent more serious mental health and behavioural problems in later life. When children are happier and less preoccupied with problems, they find it easier to learn and so their educational chances are much enhanced. By supporting children early on the Place2Be give them the chance to grow up with prospects rather than problems.

The Place2Be is currently working with 172 schools across the UK, often in areas of great deprivation. Their services are available to 58,000 children coping with problems such as bereavement, family breakdown, domestic violence, trauma and bullying. By 2020 the Place2Be hopes to reach 90,000 children across the UK.

Place2Be’s services include:

• One-to-one counselling sessions
• Group sessions
• The Place2Talk – the charity’s lunchtime service, open to all pupils in a Place2Be school (both solo and in groups) via a simple ‘booking’ slip
• Transition work – supporting Year 7 and 8 students
• A Place for Parents – their dedicated counselling service for parents and carers

Improved mental health and wellbeing : The Place2Be use the Department of Health approved tool Goodman’s Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire pre and post an intervention to assess the impact of their work. In 2008/9 where pre and post data was available 72% of parents, 63% of teachers and 66% of children across the UK reported positive social, emotional and behavioural changes following an intervention.

Children better prepared and able to learn: Many of the Place2Be’s Head teachers have examined in detail the attainment history of children receiving individual therapeutic support, reporting considerable improvements in reading, writing and maths. In several cases progress achieved by some children in one term has equalled that which would be expected over a two-year period, following an intervention.

The Place2Be has evidence that their work reduces the number of exclusions and if they prevent just one child a year from being excluded the saving to society is £64,000 (Figure as researched and recorded by the Private Equity Foundation). If the Place2Be stopped one pupil a year from being excluded from each of the schools they are working in there would be a cost saving to society of over £9million (£9,344,000).

‘The Place2Be is very helpful because you can talk about your problem and it gets rid of the pain inside you’ Child after accessing The Place2Talk

‘Because I sorted myself out and gained confidence in myself, I found that I am able to be strong with my son and give him the boundaries he needs…[it] absolutely helped me and my son.’ Parent accessing A Place for Parents.

“You feel safe and it’s good to come here, you can let your secrets out.” 13-year-old boy

To find out more about The Place2Be please visit the website: http://www.theplace2be.org.uk/.

For General Enquiries, contact the Place2Be on 020 7923 5500 or email enquiries@theplace2be.org.uk.

To enquire about bringing The Place2Be to your school or Local Education Authority email: development@theplace2be.org.uk.