From providing comfort items and gifts to funding innovative creative projects, Mersey Cares continues to work alongside teams across Mersey Care to help children and young people feel supported, valued and heard.
Supporting children and young people through creativity, care and connection
From providing comfort items and gifts to funding innovative creative projects, Mersey Cares continues to work alongside teams across Mersey Care to help children and young people feel supported, valued and heard.
Over recent years, the charity has partnered with Children and Young People's Mental Health Services (CYPMHS) and Children in Care teams to fund projects and appeals that make a meaningful difference to the lives of children, young people and their families.
Providing support when it matters most
Sometimes, that support comes through resources that help children understand and express difficult emotions, including educational materials, books and therapeutic tools. The charity has also funded worry bears to support conversations between children and their parents or carers, as well as books designed to help young people navigate important life stages, including puberty and growing up.
For some young people, practical support can have an equally significant impact.
Through the charity's Give a Gift to a Child in Care Appeal, donations help provide essential items for children entering care, many of whom arrive with very few personal belongings. Gifts such as toiletries, pyjamas, slippers and dressing gowns can help provide comfort and dignity during a difficult time.
The appeal also supports birthday celebrations, helping to mark significant milestones, and can also provide practical household items, such as kettles and toasters, for young people moving into independent living.
Bringing joy throughout the year
Mersey Cares' seasonal appeals continue to bring smiles to children and young people across our services.
Last year, more than 500 gifts were donated through the charity's Secret Santa Appeal, helping to ensure children accessing our services experienced the magic of Christmas. Following its success, the charity launched an Easter Egg Appeal, which delivered more than 500 Easter eggs to teams and services across the Trust.
These initiatives may seem like small gestures, but they send an important message to children and young people: that they are cared about and remembered.
Celebrating creativity and self-expression
Creativity can play a powerful role in supporting mental health and wellbeing.
At Knowsley CAMHS, charity funding has enabled children's artwork created during art therapy sessions to be professionally framed and displayed throughout clinic spaces. The permanent displays not only brighten the environment but also give young people the opportunity to see their creativity and artwork celebrated.
Sarah Quinn, Art and Trauma Therapist at Mersey Care, said:
"The charity funds have enabled children's artwork to be displayed in the corridors using picture frames that are hung professionally by Estates. The artwork not only helps to improve how the space looks, those children taking part feel an immense sense of pride that their artwork can be seen. This helps to improve their confidence and self-esteem."
Creative Connections: new opportunities as part of Culture 26
Building on this commitment to creativity and wellbeing, Mersey Cares has recently partnered with Halton CYPMHS to deliver an exciting new programme of creative workshops.
Towards the end of last year, colleagues from Halton CYPMHS approached the charity for support in applying for a Culture 26 'Made in Halton' Aspire Grant through Cultivate Halton. Working together, a successful application was submitted, with Mersey Cares becoming one of 10 projects awarded funding through the programme.
Children and young people attending the sessions have had the opportunity to explore different art forms, develop their creativity, build confidence and discover new ways of expressing themselves, while enjoying the therapeutic benefits that creative activities can provide.
Book folding workshops creating artistic sculptures
Storytelling through movement
Make Some Noise! DIY instrument and music workshop
The programme reflects the growing recognition of the important role that culture, arts and creativity can play in supporting mental health, wellbeing and social connection.
Going the extra mile
The charity's work would not be possible without the dedication of colleagues across CYPMHS and Children in Care services, many of whom have gone above and beyond to raise funds and awareness.
From taking part in the Liverpool Santa Dash and Liverpool Half Marathon to tackling the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, staff have demonstrated an incredible commitment to improving opportunities for the children and young people they support. Colleagues have also played a key role in promoting and supporting the charity's appeals, helping to maximise donations and ensure gifts reach those who need them most.
A new face at Halton CYPMHS
Alongside working with Mersey Care NHS Charity to secure grant funding, colleagues from Halton CYPMHS were determined to raise additional funds to support wellbeing within their service. The team signed up to the Liverpool Santa Dash and, through their fundraising efforts, raised more than £1,000 to create a dedicated service mascot.
The mascot was created across a two-day workshop with artist, Sarah Gallagher-Hayes from Twigtwisters. The sessions saw everyone getting hands-on contributing to the process and adding in their own creative touches. The willow fox has been developed to help create a warm and welcoming environment for children, young people and families attending the service. It will play an important role in helping visitors feel comfortable, connected and supported from the moment they arrive.
Sarah Hamlin, Art Psychotherapist at Halton CYPMHS and the driving force behind the project, said:
"Feedback throughout the two days was overwhelmingly positive, with many participants describing the sessions as relaxing, mindful and enjoyable. There was a real sense of pride and achievement as the fox gradually took shape, and many people commented on how impressive the finished sculpture looks. Alongside the large fox sculpture, smaller butterflies, dragonflies and flowers have been made which can be seen along the railings in the CYPMHS car park. The completed artworks aim to make the clinic feel more welcoming, creating a space that reflects the creativity and contributions of the people who use and work within the service."
Can you support us to do more?
As these projects continue to grow, and we see what a difference they make, we're inspired to do more. If you'd like to support our mission, we'd love to hear from you! One of the ways you can support us is to take part in a Mersey Cares Fundraising Challenge. We have challenges to suit every level of fitness and ability from walking events and running challenges, to bucket list events like bungee and skydives! You can also choose to fundraise your way -- by setting your own challenge, such as a bake sale or a sponsored silence. You could even follow in the footsteps of Halton NHS staff and take on the Liverpool Santa Dash 2026 - set to be the biggest one so far with over 11,000 red and blue Santas taking to the streets of Liverpool in December.
Through partnership, creativity and compassion, we can continue to make a lasting difference to the lives of children and young people across our communities. If you'd like to chat to a member of the charity team, please get in touch: charity@merseycare.nhs.uk.
