Training Room Expansion

A charity and counselling service for young people is expanding after a rise in demand.

Counselling and Support for Young People (CASY) based on London Road, Newark, has taken over premises previously used by London Eye Bespoke Eyewear. It means the charity can host more workshops and counselling sessions at its headquarters.

CASY and the opticians, which has moved to Chain Lane, Newark, had shared the premises. The charity, based in Newark for 16 years, helps people, including those with mental health problems, aged from six to 25 in Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire.

It has occupied the space left by the opticians and hosted its first parents’ meeting there yesterday. Previously it had to hold many workshops and counselling sessions away from its premises.

Mr Neil Hunter, chief executive of CASY, said: “Demand for our services is growing all the time so this extension is exciting news. “We have seen a 20% growth from last year in the number of people we help.”

One of the benefits of the extra space is a six-week series of workshops for parents whose children receive counselling at the charity. Mr Hunter said: “Parents often don’t know what goes on here after they have dropped their children off, so these sessions will help demystify our process.”

The workshops are open to parents and carers who are interested in, or would like to know more about, CASY’s work and methods.

The charity’s extension of facilities comes after the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, urged people to break down the stigma surrounding mental health during Children’s Mental Health Week. She said some children faced overwhelming challenges that left them struggling to cope with depression, anxiety, self-harm and addiction.