Cornwall’s leading grant giving health charity for the promotion of health and wellbeing
and the prevention of sickness in Cornwall and The Isles of Scilly
can apply for grants to help reach their objectives
How Duchy Health Charity is helping transform young lives in Cornwall: the story of Brook's mental health and wellbeing hub
When Duchy Health Charity agreed to support Brook’s vision for a dedicated Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub for young people in Cornwall, the ambition was clear: create a safe, welcoming space where young people aged 12–25 could find support before their struggles became crises. Less than a year after opening its doors, the Hub is already proving just how powerful that investment has been.
A Lifeline in Truro
Since launching on 9 August 2024, the Hub has received 225 referrals from across Cornwall, a striking reminder of the scale of need among young people navigating anxiety, low mood, neurodiversity, trauma, and the pressures of growing up.
Behind every referral is a young person who might otherwise be waiting months for specialist care, or who may not meet thresholds for statutory services at all. Brook’s Hub is stepping into that gap with compassion, expertise and flexibility.
By April 2025, the team had delivered 893 interventions, including:
- 98 Mental Health Literacy 1:1 sessions
- 337 Mental Health Literacy group sessions
- 42 SEND‑specific Mental Health Literacy sessions
- 264 MyLife 1:1 sessions
- 152 counselling sessions
Each one represents a moment of connection, understanding and hope.
A Space Designed with Young People in Mind
Duchy Health Charity’s funding helped transform the second floor of Penhaligon House in Truro into a calm, sensory‑sensitive environment where young people feel safe enough to open up.
The Hub now offers:
- Bright, welcoming reception and waiting areas
- A quiet workspace for parents and professionals
- A sensory‑friendly room for neurodivergent young people
- Comfortable, youth‑centred spaces for 1:1 and group sessions
These aren’t just rooms — they’re environments that help young people breathe out, settle, and feel seen.
A Skilled, Compassionate Team
The Hub is staffed by a dedicated team: a Coordinator, a Counsellor, and two Education & Wellbeing Specialists, supported by Brook’s national safeguarding, counselling and education leads.
They bring specialist training in:
- Suicide awareness
- Neurodiversity
- LGBT+ inclusion
- Mental Health First Aid
This blend of expertise ensures every young person receives support that is person‑centred, inclusive and grounded in best practice.
New Tools That Empower Young People
Thanks to the Hub’s growing experience and Brook’s national knowledge base, the team has developed new resources to help young people feel prepared and supported. These include:
- A neurodiversity‑accessible Welcome Pack
- A self‑care menu
- A Wellness Toolbox
- My Goals activities
These tools help young people build confidence, understand their emotions and develop everyday strategies to stay well.
Recognised by Local Leaders
Truro and Falmouth MP Jayne Kirkham praised the team’s dedication and highlighted the Hub’s vital role in ‘bridging the gap’ for young people waiting for specialist care or not meeting thresholds elsewhere. She reinforced what many already know: this Hub is becoming a cornerstone of early mental health support in Cornwall.
Real Voices, Real Change
The most powerful evidence of impact comes from the young people themselves:
“It’s crazy to think that I was feeling like I didn’t want to live anymore when I first came here. Now it’s just a few weeks later and things feel so much different to me. I feel hopeful.”
— Counselling client, age 14
“He values his sessions with you so much. He trusts you. It’s helping us all.”
— Parent of a counselling client
“I felt comfortable enough to open up for the first time.”
— Group session participant
“I like coming here — you get it.”
— Counselling client, age 15
Feedback from Cornwall Rural Community Charity echoes this transformation. Their tutors report that young people are now better able to name their emotions, communicate their needs, and continue conversations about mental health long after sessions end.
A Partnership Making a Difference
Duchy Health Charity’s support has helped create a service that is:
- Accessible
- Youth‑friendly
- Evidence‑based
- Deeply needed
The Hub is already changing lives — helping young people feel less alone, more understood, and more hopeful about their futures.
This is what meaningful, community‑rooted funding looks like. This is the impact of Duchy Health Charity.