Space to grow

Space to grow offers free early help for children struggling with their emotional health and wellbeing aged 8 to 13 in each nation, so that they can feel happier, supported, and safer. In particular, we’ll be here for those children who ordinarily may not be well represented within wellbeing and mental health services, such as children from the global majority, young carers, LGBTQ+ children and young people, and others.

How Space to grow helps

Every childhood is special. It’s a time to learn and grow, to make friends, to discover. But there are challenges, big and small. From bullying to racism at school, from abuse to problems at home, the pressures can quickly start to build up.

If that happens, we’re here. We offer support in 10 locations across England and Wales. These include Newham, Newcastle, Nottingham, Chelmsford, Leeds, Coventry and Warwickshire, Torbay, Manchester, Newport and Wrexham. Children First are the providers of Space to grow services in Glasgow and Edinburgh in Scotland and MACS in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

With Space to grow, children can get the help they need to understand and deal with their feelings, build strong relationships, and communicate. Whether it’s one-to-one support, joining a workshop, online resources or speaking to a specialist project worker by phone, children can get the support that’s right for them exactly when they need it. There’s advice, information, and resources for parents and carers too.

Space to grow is made possible by our incredible funding partners: BBC Children in Need, The Health Foundation, and Impact on Urban Health. Together, we can develop our collective capacity and confidence, finding new, sustainable ways to make sure every child can thrive.

With Space to grow, children can get support that helps them to flourish.

The support we offer

Space to grow helps children early, before things start to feel difficult, so that they can get the support they need to flourish. The help available varies at each location, depending on what the local community needs and wants. This help may include:

one-to-one interventions, whether as a drop-in or on a more structured basis
resilience workshops
information, resources, and advice for both parents and carers and for school staff
access to the MeTime wellbeing app (delivered by The Children’s Society)
access to Children First's support Line (in Scotland)