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It's Good To Talk
Unlike the centuries-old saying, little children should be seen and always heard. Young people often find it difficult to talk about their feelings but really all they need is someone to listen to them.
Billy is now a young adult but when he was 7, he somehow found his voice thanks to an understanding counsellor and went on to develop a confidence that he never knew he had.
Following the breakdown of his parents' marriage, Billy and his mum initially sought help from a GP near their home in Manchester, before finding additional support at Billy's school from the charity Place2Be. Its core purpose is to help young people face mental health or emotional issues.
Mum Katie said, "Billy took a lot of worry onto his shoulders, far more than he should have at such a young age. But the counsellor helped him understand that what was going on at home wasn't Billy's fault and that it is okay to just be a child. That really helped him."
Billy's school is one of 520 across the United Kingdom with trained Place2Be counsellors.
The charity supports almost 300,000 children every year - and that number is growing thanks to players of People's Postcode Lottery, who have so far raised more than £2.6 Million for their amazing work.
Mark Ruston, Place2Be Schools Project Manager, said, "With Billy, I focussed on listening to how he was feeling and encouraging him to open up. We have had so many good outcomes for children in similar situations. You start by earning their trust and you go from there."
Reflecting on the support he received, Billy said, "If you really listen to people and let them talk about stuff, it does so much good, because it relieves the stress. It definitely worked for me and I am so glad I got a chance to speak to someone from Place2Be."
Making A Difference
People's Postcode Lottery players are helping deserving causes like Place2Be make a difference every single day. Read more about the range of Charities that our players support.
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Published: 08/02/2024
