BLAKE brings music and hope to Norfolk

Norwich-based charity Eating Matters received funding to provide additional counselling sessions for young people who are finding it difficult to move on with their recovery from eating disorder behaviours. They support those with mild to moderate eating disorders

Case Study

S, age 22, was referred to Eating Matters by her GP. S presented at assessment with OSFED (Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorder) with binge/restrict/purge cycles.

S had been struggling with body image and disordered eating patterns for over 10 years following being taken to slimming world as a child and being told she was fat. S was making herself sick 3 times per week following a binge. The rest of the week she was restricting and over exercising, weighing herself 10 times per day.

S attended for 26 weekly counselling sessions, during which potential ADHD was discussed and S was supported with contacting her GP for a referral. Research has demonstrated that individuals with ADHD have a greater risk for developing binge eating disorder or bulimia nervosa than their peers without ADHD. It was at this point that S was able to make significant changes in her eating behaviours and Eating Matters agreed to extend the sessions offered to her while she was waiting assessment.

At the beginning of therapy her body image was very bad and almost everything in her life she would connect back to and blame on her body. S worked incredibly hard and at the end of therapy had made amazing progress saying that she could no longer connect to the horrible feelings she previously had.

“I can now see that my body is literally just flesh and there are so many other amazing things about me that don’t relate to my weight. My counsellor always listened to me and has never made me feel judged even when my thoughts are irrational. I could 100% say and be exactly who I needed to be. You have provided me a safe space and changed my life and mindset.”

– S, Beneficiary

Caring Together received funding to help deliver workshops to young carers in Norfolk, an often overlooked group who on average go at least four years before anyone offers any help.

Across the UK, it is estimated that there are up to one million young carers. Young carers are people under 18 who help look after someone in their family, or a friend, who has a mental illness, physical ailment, disability, or addiction. In Norfolk, it is estimated that there are over 6,000 young carers, but with many flying under the radar, the real number of this ‘hidden health service’ is likely to be much higher. When help is finally offered, young carers are often already struggling to cope, falling behind at school, becoming more socially isolated, or not being able to look after their own mental health. Caring for a relative can be overwhelming and stressful for young carers. In addition to the demanding responsibilities, they also worry about the health and wellbeing of their loved one.

Case Study

Thanks to a grant from the Rose Berney Memorial Fund, Caring Together were able to deliver sessions focused on giving young carers in Norfolk an opportunity to focus on their own mental health and wellbeing, providing many with a rare opportunity for them to self reflect. Activities delivered included yoga, a sound bath, mindfullness colouring, wellbeing performance sessions, practical stress relieving activities and active listening themed discussions.

Caring Together supported N, a young adult carer who cares for their Mum who has relapsing-remitting MS.

N has struggled for a long time with their mental health which was exacerbated by their dad dying when they were 12 years old. N ended up in a mental health hospital when they were 13 due to depression, and didn’t receive support as a young carer until age 15 when they were referred into Carers Matter Norfolk by their sister’s primary school.

N then received support from MTM Youth Services and was referred to Norfolk Young Carers Forum, which is supported by Caring Together. Since joining, N has attended many sessions and attended a trip to London. N quickly became a pivotal member of the group, sharing their views and opinions and supporting other young carers to do the same. Caring Together referred N to take part in the Princes Trust ‘Teams’ programme, which N feels helped them to be a better person, to be less judgemental and to consider what they want to do in the future.

Although N made strong developments through this support network, mental health challenges and depression continued to be challenges for N to manage. Through Caring Together’s mental health and wellbeing session, N has identified ways to manage their wellbeing effectively and uses this to recognise triggers for their depression. In particular, sound baths made such a difference for N that they have spoken about wanting to looks at ways that they can demonstrate this to others in the future. The tools and techniques learnt through the sessions have support N’s positive transition into work, where they now work for a local organisation supporting people with a learning disability in the community. N had a focused goal of wanting to move into paid work and the ability to manage their pre-existing depression has meant that work is even more manageable than it would have been. They have also set up their own self-employed business in the beauty industry that has been made possible through improved confidence and the ability to manage their business.

The Rose Berney Memorial Fund has also partnered with the Sir Norman Lamb Coalition for Young People to distribute vital funding out to local groups.

The Coalition is a network of 60+ Norfolk-based VCSE organisations supporting over 10,000 children and young people, helping strengthen existing services and encourage and promote innovation through access to shared resources and opportunities. In early 2024, the Rose Berney Memorial Fund supported the Coalition’s dedicated annual funding programme through grants totalling £35,000. One of the projects supported in the round was Norwich City Community Sports Foundation (NCCSF)’s flagship programme, Onside, which has been running for 5 years.

Through Onside, NCCSF support over 100 vulnerable and disadvantaged young people to help improve their resilience and confidence, increase positive behaviours and school attendance and enable them to build trusted relationships with adults, with a primary focus on overall mental and physical wellbeing. Sessions incorporate engaging the young person in physical activities to help manage tension and increase physical wellbeing, with behavioural activities such as workshops on managing conflict and one to one mentoring and educational activities such as nutrition and stress/anxiety workshops.

Ticket proceeds have also helped support YANA, a registered charity that promotes mental health awareness amongst those involved in farming and other rural businesses in Norfolk.

Farming or working in the countryside is usually a good way of life but it is a demanding and stressful occupation, and so it’s not surprising that many people involved with agriculture can feel isolated, depressed or unable to cope as well as normal. YANA work to provide confidential support and counselling, build understanding of mental health and invest in Mental Health First Aid training and suicide prevention.