BBC Radio 4 Appeal
On Sunday 22 February 2009, Head teacher Simon Marshall’s BBC Radio 4 Appeal was broadcast on behalf of The Place2Be. The Place2Be currently offers support to 47,000 vulnerable children and their families in schools around the UK and helps them deal with their feelings of fear, anxiety and pain. We aim to be supporting 80,000 children across the UK by 2010.
We were overwhelmed by the generous response of listeners who donated over £13,000. The appeal also helped raise awareness of The Place2Be and the importance of our work. Thank you to everyone who helped make the appeal such a success!
We’re in the right place at the right timeThe Place2Be works inside schools to improve the emotional wellbeing of children, their families and the whole school community. Our services are easy to access – and they make a remarkable difference.
"The Place2Be has touched the lives of the whole school community in a positive way over the past year," Brent teacher.
“There is no doubt in our minds that within our school’s families, there are children who are happier, stronger and better equipped to face their difficulties because The Place2Be is here," Edinburgh teacher.
We turn problems into prospects Our one-to-one counselling and drop-in services give children a chance to express their worries; from friendship issues to domestic violence. They help children to cope with feelings such as anger and sadness and to make better informed decisions about their lives. This means they are less likely to ‘go off the rails’ later in life.
"The Place2Be is for children who are hurt, to come and tell grown ups about their feelings so they don't have to keep it inside them and get upset even more," Suzie, aged 9
We stop the downward spiral before it starts Leaving children’s problems unaddressed can result in truancy, low academic achievement, exclusion, drug and alcohol abuse and crime – which cost society millions. The Place2Be reaches children before this downward spiral takes hold. Our services are proven to enhance self-esteem and improve communication and relationship skills.Teachers report less disruption in the classroom, better grades and fewer school exclusions. And that benefits everyone.
80% of children showing behavioural problems at the age of five go on to develop more serious forms of anti-social behaviour.
£88 is the overall average cost of providing Place2Be counselling and support to a child each year
£63,851 is the average cost to society for just one excluded child (New Philanthropy Capital, 2007)
To download the
Radio 4 Appeal script click hereIf you would like to support The Place2Be and enable us to reach more vulnerable and disadvantaged children, please
donate online