In 2023, the NHS estimated that one in five children and young people aged eight to 25 in England were likely to have a diagnosable mental health disorder. Anxiety, depression, self-harm and eating disorders have all risen sharply since the pandemic, and the trend continues upward.
In Devon, the waiting time can be over 200 days for a young person to access mental health support. Demand far outstrips supply, particularly for early-intervention services. Families describe being “bounced” between school counsellors, GP practices and specialist teams, often without any consistent point of support. For those already experiencing anxiety or low mood, each delay compounds distress, disengagement from education and family strain creating an environment where young people’s difficulties often escalate unchecked. Teachers, youth workers and parents consistently tell us that young people are “slipping through the gaps”, receiving help only when they reach breaking point.
The Pixel Fund’s generous donation of £5,000 helps us to run our Headlight peer support groups which provide a safe, non-clinical and relaxed environment where young people meet others experiencing similar issues. The programme of activities and workshops is developed with them and gives tools for supporting emotional wellbeing. Sessions are co-designed with participants and use art, discussion and mindfulness to build connection and confidence, generating the informal support that naturally develops between young people. Those who have been part of the group for longer often help to welcome new members, sharing experiences, reassurance and encouragement in ways that feel comfortable to them. This gentle, peer-to-peer connection helps create a sense of belonging and safety, where young people can be themselves Over time, these relationships form a supportive community built on trust and understanding. Each group becomes a space where young people listen to one another, learn together and build resilience — not through formal structures, but through genuine care, empathy and shared experience.