Stay Well is a partnership service delivered by Changes YP, North Staffs Mind, and The Dove Service, providing early mental health and wellbeing support for children and young people aged 5–18 (up to 25 for care leavers or young people with learning differences) living within the Stoke-on-Trent City Council area.
The service is designed to support young people experiencing mild to moderate emotional distress. This may include difficulties such as anxiety, low mood, anger, or low self-esteem.
What the Service Offers:
Group-Based Support (Changes YP)
Changes YP delivers a range of psychoeducational interventions in small group settings:
- Wellbeing Workshops (5–18 years)
Six-week programmes (or five weeks for ages 5–7) supporting young people to better understand their emotions and develop practical strategies to manage anxiety, low mood, anger, and self-esteem. - Dealing with Difficult Emotions Workshops (8–18 years)
Six-week, CBT-informed programmes focusing on anger and aggression, helping young people build emotional regulation, coping strategies, and assertiveness skills. - Peer Support Meetings (5–18 years)
Ongoing weekly sessions (online and in person) providing a safe space for young people to share experiences, build connections, and continue developing skills learned in workshops. - Additional Opportunities
Including holiday social groups (e.g. arts and crafts) and the Elevate Youth Council, where young people can share their views, influence local services, and build confidence and teamwork skills.
One-to-One Support:
- North Staffs Mind
Provides individual counselling to support young people in exploring their emotions, building resilience, and developing coping strategies. - The Dove Service
Offers specialist one-to-one bereavement support, helping young people process grief and loss in a safe and supportive environment.
Support for Parents, Carers, and Professionals:
- Training Workshops (online via Zoom)
Free sessions providing practical tools and strategies to support young people’s mental health. - Parent Peer Support Group
Weekly drop-in session (Thursdays, 4pm–6pm) offering informal support and shared experiences. - Mental Health First Aid Training
Training to help adults recognise and respond to young people’s mental health needs, including in crisis situations.
How to Refer:
Referrals for young people living in the Stoke-on-Trent City Council area can be made via the Combined Wellbeing website using the following link:
https://combinedwellbeing.org.uk/da-landing-page/da-young-people/da-yp-online-referral/
All referrals are triaged by the CAMHS All Age Access Team, who will determine whether Stay Well is the most appropriate service or whether another service would be more appropriate.
Direct referrals can be made by parents and carers for group work, referrals for 1:1 support can be made through the above link