Headspace would like to say a huge thank you to Cllr Paul Hodgkinson, Cllr Daryl Corps and Cllr Tom Bradley, whose support through Gloucestershire County Council’s Grassroots Neighbourhood Fund is helping us continue our mentoring programmes for young people across the North Cotswolds until the end of 2026.

Their combined backing provides important funding towards the delivery of one-to-one mentoring for young people who may be experiencing anxiety, low confidence, difficulties attending school, social isolation or other challenges affecting their mental health and wellbeing.

The power of having someone there

Mentoring is one of the most important parts of Headspace’s work.

For many young people, the first step towards things getting better is simply having a trusted adult who turns up, listens and doesn’t judge.

Our mentors are not there to tell young people what to do or to try to “fix” them. They provide consistency, encouragement and a safe space where young people can talk, build confidence and begin to find their own way forward.

Sometimes that might mean meeting for a coffee or going for a walk. At other times it could involve spending time at our allotments, taking part in an activity or simply sitting and talking.

The relationship is what matters.

Supporting young people in their own communities

The funding has been provided through Gloucestershire County Council’s Grassroots Neighbourhood Fund, which enables county councillors to support projects that improve health and wellbeing and strengthen their local communities.

The fund particularly supports initiatives that build social connections, reduce isolation and help people who may be at greater risk of experiencing inequalities because of their circumstances.

For Headspace, this local approach is particularly important. Living in a rural area can make accessing support difficult, particularly for young people who cannot easily travel to larger towns or who struggle to engage with more traditional services.

By delivering mentoring within local communities, we can take support closer to the young person.

Thank you Paul, Daryl and Tom

We are incredibly grateful to Paul Hodgkinson, Daryl Corps and Tom Bradley for recognising the value of early intervention and choosing to invest in Headspace’s mentoring work.

Their support will help us keep mentors working alongside young people through the remainder of the year, providing the consistency that is so important when a young person begins to trust someone.

For a young person going through a difficult period, knowing that someone is going to turn up each week can make a bigger difference than many of us realise.

Thank you Paul, Daryl and Tom for backing Headspace – and, most importantly, for backing young people across our communities.