ACHIEVE CHANGE & ENGAGEMENT

WE SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE WITH POOR EMOTIONAL & MENTAL HEALTH

ABOUT US

A.C.E. delivers solution focussed interventions to suit the needs of individuals or groups. Our trained and experienced workers use discussions, games, art and craft, drama and role play, to increase resilience and improve emotional and mental health and wellbeing.

This service is currently available for young people aged 11 -25 in the Lancaster, Morecambe, Carnforth, Kirkham and Fleetwood and takes place in schools, GP surgeries and community settings.

We are seeking fund to extend the service to other areas and to children and adults.

Young people referred to the service are offered either individual support or group work to tackle the causes of poor emotional health and wellbeing and are encouraged to set goals to overcome them and build resiliance.

Our services include the following

Peer Support Groups

The Peer Support Group supports young people to improve their social and emotional skills, by focusing on different capabilities of social and emotional health. The participants build on existing and develop new skills and abilities, change attitudes and motivation.

They learn to support each other within the group and extend this to other young people outside the group. Young people that have taken part identify increased confidence and self esteem, better relationships with friends and families, reduced use of alcohol or drugs, reduced self harming behaviours and increased resilience.

Giving Young People with poor emotional/mental Health a Voice

We gain the views of the young people we work with on a variety of mental health issues. We also:

Deliver peer research projects working with a group of young people to plan deliver and
analyse a consultation /research project around young people and mental health. Deliver workshops devised by young people for adults. Currently our workshops are: “working with emotionally vulnerable young people” “young people, mental health and stigma”
Our Health Action Groups provide young people with an opportunity to come together to share their ideas to improve health services and health education for young people.
Young people are trained to represent their peers in decision making and delivering solutions.
We train young people to become Emotional Health Peer Coaches
We support young people to access other services.

Who we work with.

A.C.E. predominately works with young people aged 11 –25 that:

Need Support with their emotional health and wellbeing

Do not reach the CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) criteria for referral.
Are waiting for specialist mental health intervention and need current support
Have completed specialist intervention but need short term additional support

A.C.E. works with young people that are suffering from anxiety or stress, are or have been bullied, are having difficulty coping with their emotions, have been involved in a domestic, violent situation,
have difficult family situations, have friendship difficulties, have relationship difficulties, have low mood or have low self esteem or confidence.

A.C.E. also works with parents/carers and families to improve emotional health where appropriate.

Individual Support

Individual support uses a variety of solution focused methods to encourage the young person or adult to identify and tackle the causes of poor emotional health and wellbeing and set goals to overcome them and build resilience.

The current support available includes Active Listening techniques using art, drama or games; Life coaching; Counselling and Integrated Eye Movement Therapy.

Young people identify being listened to and challenged to think differently. It is not only a pleasant experience but motivates them to change things in their attitude and behaviour which improves their well being and builds resilience.

Why we do it

Positive emotional health and wellbeing supports general health and achievement in life. Evidence shows that focusing on supporting emotional and social development can have a positive long term impact. We have evidence that our work makes a positive difference to the lives of the young people we work with by:

Improving emotional health and wellbeing
Improving Low Mood
Increasing self-esteem
Improving confidence
Building resilience
Improving relationships
Enabling them to better manage their emotions
Enabling them to better manage their behaviour
Reduce Anxiety

This results in better school attendance and achievement, better support network and more friends, improved family relationships, a reduction or ceasing of self harming behaviours and a more active lifestyle and community involvement

How we do it

We are:

Non-judgemental
Supportive
Accessible
Qualified and experienced
Committed to putting children, young people and families at the heart of our work
Fully safeguarding compliant

WE USE:

Active listening
Coaching skills
Group work skills
Solution focused goal setting

Our Directors

Sally Temple

Operations Director

David Tyson

Chair of Directors

John Heath

Finance Volunteer

Paul Callis

PR & Marketing Director

Joanne Johnson

Director

Cocoa Mudgal

Director

Chris Welsby

Director

Angela Cade

Director

Leila Mitchell

Young Persons Director

James Fox

Director

Our Admin Staff

Beverley Walker

Administrator

Lucy Reynolds

Administrator

Our Staff & Volunteer Workers

Rehanna Hassan

Emotional Health Practitioner

Julia Efstathiou

Emotional Health Practitioner

Glyn Fowler

Emotional Health Practitioner

Anna Peri

Emotional Health Practitioner

Cath Corless

Emotional Health Practitioner

Julianne Dougherty

Emotional Health Practitioner

Sarah Emslie

Volunteer Emotional Health Practitioner

Kit Cooper

Volunteer Emotional Health Practitioner

Sarah Rigby

Emotional Health Practitioner

Rowan Cleet

Volunteer Emotional Health Practitioner

You can view more details about the background and experience of our Staff, Volunteers and Directors on the Team Members Page here

VOLUNTEERS

As a small charity we are always looking for new Trustees to get involved and support our work. We are currently looking for volunteers with the following skills: strategic business planning, financial management, marketing, ICT/social media, fundraising/bid writing and administration.

We are also always looking for volunteer fundraisers and people to help deliver the service. Please visit our volunteer information page here for more details

Please feel free to contact us using the form here to find out more about how you can get involved.

TESTIMONIALS

My emotional health has improved greatly since starting. I feel like a completely different person now and can’r believe how differently I handle situations. I really liked the relaxed setting because it allowed me to speak freely about anything without feeling judged or rushed

Young Person (March 2018)

The strategies and having someone to open up to took a lot of the worry and upset off my chest. Increased resilience and confidence when faced with a hard situation enabled me to feel better about myself and identify the qualities I have as a friend and as a person. I am a lot happier, I am able to help others and give something back. Thank you for all the help-so amazing. I definitely recommend

Young Person (December 2017)

A-C-E are very easy to talk to which allowed our daughter to open up about her feelings and worries. Setting her tasks each week gave her motivation to overcome situations. She is a different girl which is lovely to see.

Parent (April 2018)

Very professional service with quick turn around between referral and initial assessment. Excellent at arranging appointments and information sharing whilst maintaining confidentiality. The service provided has been brilliant which has led us to submit more referrals to support our young people’s improvement in emotional health and well being. Thank you for your continued support. We would like more of your service

High School (August 2017)

Interview on BBC Radio Lancashire

Posted: November 14, 2024

Graham Liver visited young people parents, grandparents, a trustee and the trauma worker at ACE to find out how the funding from Children in Need is making a positive difference to the lives of young people in Lancaster and surrounding areas. The broadcast will be on Thursday 14th October at about 8.00am on Radio Lancashire […]

Good News (Referrals now re-opened)

Posted: July 30, 2024

ACE is open for referrals again for 10 to 25 year olds in Lancaster District. We have emotional health practitioners who will work with young people showing the following symptoms Mild low mood Mild anxiety Poor emotional regulation resulting in excessive anger, frustration, tears or superficial self-harm behaviours (scratching, skin picking and pinching, punching walls […]

ACE meets Pudsey Bear

Posted: November 19, 2021

Ace workers, along with some children and their family met Pudsey Bear today. They were also interviewed, live, for the Graham Liver breakfast show on radio Lancashire. ACE receives two grants from Children in Need which has enabled us to support many young people to improve their emotional health and build resilience. We,the young people […]

Thank You Bill Hodgson

Posted: October 14, 2021

Massive THANK YOU to Bill Hodgson and 21st Century Motors who raised £1259.64 for Ace with their fantastic 24 hour car flip.

NEW FUNDING from The National Lottery Awards for All

Posted: June 7, 2021

Thank you to the National Lottery Awards For All for funding a new triage post for Ace . This means that we will have increased capacity to assess young people’s needs more quickly.

MANY THANKS TO THE ANGUS LAWSON MEMORIAL TRUST

Posted: February 25, 2021

MANY THANKS TO THE ANGUS LAWSON MEMORIAL TRUST FOR PROVIDING SOME MUCH NEEDED FUNDING TO ENSURE WE CAN CONTINUE TO REDUCE OUR WAITING LIST BY WORKING WITH MORE YOUNG PEOPLE, MORE QUICKLY

Gem’s Charity Head Shave

Posted: February 24, 2021

Check out this upcoming fantastic HEADSHAVE for Ace Gemma Dunn (Barrow) is raising money for Achieve Change And Engagement Ace, PRISM THE GIFT FUND and Wolfwood Event date: 28th March 2021 Full details on the link below. https://www.facebook.com/2025829690984655/posts/2983115448589403/

Thank You to E R Wilson Funding Pot

Posted: February 24, 2021

A Big THANK YOU to the E R Wilson Funding Pot for the Grant they have allowed us to be able to see more young people quickly.

Thank You to CAF the Charities Aid Foundation

Posted: January 27, 2021

Thank you to CAF for the funding which will help ensure that Ace can continue to do the great work it does with young people .

New Funding from the Westminster Foundation

Posted: October 30, 2020

We have been successful in securing funding from the Westminster Foundation for a family worker to join the Ace team . This will enable us to work more comprehensively with young people AND their families , where it is difficult to help improve the young person’s emotional health without family input . Thank you Westminster Foundation […]