A community care programme educating Newham’s youngsters about mental health has had its achievements recognised at a national awards ceremony.

The Right Here Newham programme won the Mental Health in Primary Care and Community Award at the recent Breakthrough Positive Practice Awards in Mental Health.

The five-year pilot scheme addressed the emotional and mental well-being at the younger generation, aiming to develop new approaches to support.

Part of borough-wide initiative, the lead organisation for the borough was New Choices for Youth (NCY) with partners Newham Asian Women’s Project (NAWP), Harmony Family Centre (Harmony) and the Forum.

NCY targeted Black Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) young people focusing on the effects of violence on young people’s mental health, and the lack of access to services.

Partner programmes were also undertaken to cover Fermanagh, Sheffield and Brighton and Hove.

Chief executive of NCY, Marcia Samuels said: “We are incredibly pleased to have been part of this pilot.

“Right Here Newham reached out to a number young people that felt their needs weren’t being met and involved a panel of young people playing key roles in the decision making.

“NCY will take the learning gained from this project to deliver more tailored services for our young people in Newham in the future.”