Blue Smile is a Cambridgeshire charity supporting children aged 3-13 facing mental health difficulties. Our expert practitioners support 250+ children every year, often from areas of disadvantage, providing 1:1 arts-based therapy. We work in schools across Cambridgeshire.
What makes Blue Smile special?
Many of the children we support have faced huge challenges in their lives, such as bereavement, family breakdown and sadly neglect or abuse.
- One to one arts and play therapy allows children to easily express themselves using their natural language in a safe, confidential space. Activities are fun for the children, and help them learn better self-regulation, alternative behaviours, and greater resilience.
- We support children for as long as they need help – we know that building a trusting therapeutic relationship can lead to long-term change for a child.
- We always work in schools because children are significantly more likely to access support this way, and it enables us to work closely with the families and staff around that child.
- Our service is completely free for all the children and families we support.
- We help schools to spot the warning signs of poor mental health in a child, so they get help early before reaching a crisis.
During the pandemic
Children have continued to get help. The pandemic has imposed a huge layer of difficulty on young lives, particularly on those who were already struggling. By adapting our services when the pandemic began, we have ensured that children, families and schools can continue to have access to support, whether schools are shut, or children are unable to go to school because they are isolating or for other reasons.
“I have brightness in me again and I feel happiness. I feel that I can take
on any learning challenge, and I never used to feel that.” (A aged 11)
Blue Smile’s impact on the children we support
With support from Blue Smile, children can be freed to achieve their potential and enjoy the childhoods they deserve.
Since we were founded in 2010 we have supported nearly 2000 children and we are proud of the progress the children make:
- 94% of parents say their child’s mental health has improved with Blue Smile.
- 89% of teachers say that Blue Smile children improve in the classroom.
Blue Smile frees a child to learn and fulfil their potential:
“The benefit of Blue Smile to children and families is immense.” (Headteacher)
If you would like to know more, please go to www.bluesmile.org.uk