A mental health charity in Oxfordshire has set out a goal to reach 150 more young people.
Response, the largest independent mental health charity in the county, has launched its 2026 Christmas appeal.
It plans to raise £42,717 before the turn of the year to fund a new full-time wellbeing youth worker in Thatcham, who would help more young people access early intervention services.
Nicola Leavesley, chief executive officer at Response, said: “Christmas should be a time of joy for all people, particularly children.
“But the coming weeks will feel anything but festive for thousands of young people who are experiencing their own personal challenges right now.
“We are in the midst of a mental health crisis, and it is the responsibility of our team to work with families before crisis strikes.
“Already, we are seeing positive outcomes from the launch of our new wellbeing hub in Thatcham.
“But, ultimately, demand for our services continues to outweigh resource which is why we have launched our Christmas appeal.”
The charity hopes that raising £42,717 would allow them to recruit, train, and equip a full-time wellbeing youth worker in 2026, who will be based at the new Thatcham wellbeing hub.
The hub opened in October and provides early mental health support, helping people before issues reach crisis point.
Recent data highlights the urgent need for such services.
The children’s commissioner said that the number of children with active referrals to the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services is 958,200, an increase of almost 10,000 last year.
Suicide rates among 15 to 19-year-olds are also at a 30-year high.
One young person already supported by the Thatcham hub is Jeremy, a 15-year-old who has autism and left school this year after he was bullied.
After experiencing thoughts of self-harm, he was referred to the hub and now receives one-to-one support from the charity’s sole wellbeing youth worker.
Ms Leavesley said: “Jeremy’s story epitomises how, with the right guidance, our team can intervene to support young people in their moment of need and potentially avoid crisis.
“There will be hundreds – possibly thousands – of others in our operating patch who will be experiencing hardship equivalent to Jeremy while he was in school right now.
“We want to work with those children, and help them aspire to a bright future where they can be the best version of themselves.
“The festive season can be a challenging time for many, both mentally and practically.
“But, if you are able to dig deep and back our Christmas appeal you’ll do so in the knowledge that every penny will be used to support those facing crisis.”