Northampton youth mental health charity spends £10K preparing to reopen as a Covid-safe environment

During lockdown the charity has delivered more than 1,000 remote counselling sessions, but is keen to welcome clients back
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A charity that focuses on helping young people with their mental health has spent thousands of pounds making sure its building is ready for face-to-face sessions.

The Lowdown in Kingswell Street, off Gold Street, which is this year’s Mayor’s charity, had to close mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic and has since been offering online counselling sessions.

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While the building has been closed, staff have been working hard to make sure it is a safe environment to welcome clients back to.

Social distancing measures have been put in place throughout the building. Photo: Kirsty Edmonds.Social distancing measures have been put in place throughout the building. Photo: Kirsty Edmonds.
Social distancing measures have been put in place throughout the building. Photo: Kirsty Edmonds.

Earlier this week the charity welcomed Mayor Councillor Brian Sargeant to the building to show him the updates and explain how they will be able to welcome a limited number of clients back.

Sophie Turner, fundraising and marketing manager at The Lowdown, said: “When we first closed we got remote counselling set up within two weeks and we gave clients the option to access remote counselling or stay on the waiting list.

“Our remote counselling has been going well, we’ve been getting good feedback from clients and have managed to deliver 1,200 sessions since April.

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“We’ve also been maintaining contact with people on our waiting list and parents throughout to check-in, make sure they’re okay and to ask if they want remote counselling.

Mayor Brian Sargeant and Mayoress Ray Kelly-Sargeant visited the charity for a tour. Photo: Kirsty Edmonds.Mayor Brian Sargeant and Mayoress Ray Kelly-Sargeant visited the charity for a tour. Photo: Kirsty Edmonds.
Mayor Brian Sargeant and Mayoress Ray Kelly-Sargeant visited the charity for a tour. Photo: Kirsty Edmonds.

“But we’re really excited to reopen our doors and be able to offer face-to-face support for certain clients.

“We have a very long waiting list, but we are starting to see a limited number now that restrictions have eased.

“Our building in the town centre is lovely but it is pretty old, so it has taken a lot of time, resources and attention to detail to get our building feeling fresh and clean and we’re really proud of the standard of the building now.

“It is prepared and everything is in place to open safely.”

Sharon Wormesley, chief executive of The Lowdown. Photo: Kirsty Edmonds.Sharon Wormesley, chief executive of The Lowdown. Photo: Kirsty Edmonds.
Sharon Wormesley, chief executive of The Lowdown. Photo: Kirsty Edmonds.
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To make sure the premises are ready, the charity has spent £10,000 on re-configuring so rooms are big enough for social distancing, as well as redecorating, changing electrics and providing PPE.

Protective screens are in place, visors and masks will be on hand for staff and clients and all surfaces will be deep cleaned regularly.

Sophie added: “It has become much more costly to deliver services in the current climate as we have equipment we would not normally have, but we just decided that it was really important that we did this to get face-to-face clients back.

“We have minimised risk as much as we can and a lot of thought has gone into it.

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“We have been seeing referrals going up and up but we don’t know yet the scale of the impact that lockdown will have on young people’s mental health.

“We are seeing some clients coming back and being really excited to come back, which is what we want.

“As we see how it will develop and how we will adapt, we will then start to slowly increase how many clients can come in.

“We will then start to advertise our services once again when we have got further down the waiting list.”

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As the adaptations have been expensive for the charity, any donations would be gratefully received and Sophie says the money will be ‘put to use straight away’.

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