Brave Futures warns of rising demand for children’s trauma support in West Suffolk
The service has seen an almost 40% increase in referrals
A Suffolk charity supporting children and young people who’ve experienced trauma says it has seen a 36% rise in referrals in West Suffolk this year. The surge has put increasing pressure on the organisation to provide counselling and support services across the region.
Hannah Walker, engagement and fundraising manager at Brave Futures, says the charity urgently needs more funding to meet the growing demand.
“There’s a serious reason as to why we need to fundraise. We’ve seen a 36% increase in referrals in West Suffolk. So we need to find ways to fund those young people through a service,” Walker said.
Brave Futures provides specialist support for children and young people recovering from trauma, including counselling, mentoring, and safe spaces to discuss their experiences. Walker explained the challenges of funding these essential services:
“Our biggest outgoings are practitioners and hubs”, she said. “That’s what we ultimately need to fund. The more we can fund practitioners’ time and space, the more sessions we fund.”
Vital volunteering
Walker highlighted that the charity relies heavily on community support to maintain its services.
“I’d just like to probably add a massive thank you to all of the people who are going to give up their time to come and volunteer,” she said. “Events like this don’t happen without incredible people gifting their time to the charity.”
Volunteers play a vital role in ensuring that Brave Futures’ programmes reach as many young people as possible. Walker also highlighted the work of local organisations like Bury Abbey Rotary, which helps with events and supports community initiatives.
“Bury Abbey Rotary are going to be sending quite a few volunteers this year, which is exciting,” Walker said. “They’re all willing to don Christmas hats and bring some festive fun for all the kids. We’re very grateful to those who are involved."
Growing demand
Beyond the immediate challenge of staffing and hub space, the charity faces the broader issue of growing mental health needs among children.
“We need to fund practitioners’ time and space. The more sessions we fund, the more children we can support,” Walker said.
She emphasised that the charity is committed to providing safe, inclusive, and supportive spaces for young people, but warns that without additional funding, its ability to meet the increasing demand is at risk.
“We’ve seen a huge increase in demand for our services. It’s really important that we keep up with that so young people aren’t left waiting for support,” Walker said.
"Hannah Walker explained the financial realities of providing trauma support for children. She said that helping just a small number of young people can carry significant costs.
“To support three young people, it costs around £6,000. That covers practitioners’ time, the space in our hubs, and the resources needed for each session. The more we can fund, the more children we can reach,” Walker said."
She explained Brave Futures’ work underlines a wider trend across Suffolk, where charities and services supporting children and mental health are facing increasing pressure amid rising referrals. Walker encouraged local residents to consider volunteering or donating to help sustain these vital services.
“We are very grateful for every single person that contributes, whether through volunteering or supporting our fundraising,” she said. “It all helps us to continue delivering the sessions that children and young people need.”