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Cornwall’s leading grant giving health charity for the promotion of health and wellbeing
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HELP Programme Transforms Lives

An image of a female psychologist shaking hands with a male client following a counselling session about mental health

HELP programme transforms lives while reducing pressure on NHS services​

With funding provided by Duchy Health Charity, and delivered by Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change (CN4C) a pioneering community support programme in Cornwall is delivering significant improvements in mental wellbeing while easing pressure on overstretched NHS services, new evaluation findings reveal.

The Charity awarded £28,978 of funding to help bring the HELP in the Waiting Room programme to life.

The programme was delivered alongside counselling support between April 2025 and March 2026, has supported over 370 people across Cornwall, many of whom were facing long waits for statutory mental health services.

An image of a woman who is a counsellor undertaking a therapy session with another person who we can only see the back of
An image of a counselling session showing a woman talking to her counsellor in the studio.

Supporting people when they need it most

The report shows the scale of demand for early intervention support. In total, 245 individuals accessed HELP and 126 people received counselling, with 54 people benefiting from both services.

The programme is designed to provide practical and emotional support to people while they wait for NHS or other statutory services, and the findings underline just how critical that role has become.

Survey data highlights that:

  • 70% of participants had been waiting more than four months for mental health support
  • 40% had been waiting 10 months or longer
  • 90% remained on waiting lists during their time with HELP

     

This confirms HELP’s role as a vital ‘bridge service’, stabilising people and preventing escalation during prolonged delays in care.

Strong outcomes and measurable impact

The programme demonstrates consistently strong outcomes across multiple wellbeing measures.

  • 98% of clients improved their wellbeing by the end of support
  • 89% reported reduced severity in their main concern
  • 82% saw improvement in secondary concerns

 

Average wellbeing scores increased significantly, showing clear progress in people’s mental health over time.

Participants reported improvements in:

  • Anxiety, depression and emotional distress
  • Confidence, coping skills and relationships
  • Ability to manage housing, finance and employment challenges

These results highlight the value of a holistic, person-centred approach, addressing both emotional and practical needs.

An image of a male psychologist listening intently to a distressed young woman covering her face with a tissue, offering support and guidance in a private counselling session about mental health

Photo credit: Pepper Pot Studios
High engagement across Cornwall

Demand for the service is widespread, with referrals concentrated in Camborne, Pool and Redruth, but extending across Cornwall from Penzance to St Austell.

Referrals came primarily from:

  • NHS and GP services (37.4%)
  • Self-referrals (33.3%)

Together, these accounted for over 70% of all referrals, demonstrating strong links with primary care alongside community access routes.

The programme also delivered 1,865 group attendances, helping people build confidence, reduce isolation and connect with their communities.

Tackling complex needs

The evaluation highlights the complex challenges faced by those accessing support.

Many participants were:

  • Unemployed or unable to work due to illness
  • Living alone or in small households
  • Experiencing multiple health issues, including anxiety, depression and long-term physical conditions

Importantly, many individuals reported undiagnosed conditions, reinforcing the need for accessible, non-clinical support routes like HELP.

An image of a man in a blue shirt taking part in a counselling session with a female counsellor who we can only see the back of
An image of a cardboard box containing a number of food items.

Providing practical help as well as emotional support

Alongside emotional support, the programme delivered vital practical assistance.

  • Over £30,000 in financial support was distributed
  • Support included food access, housing assistance and help navigating benefits

Participants consistently highlighted:

  • Feeling listened to and understood
  • Reduced distress while waiting for services
  • Reliable, ongoing support
Reducing pressure on public services

Without HELP, participants said they would have turned to:

  • GP services
  • A&E departments
  • Emergency services
  • Adult social care

This demonstrates the programme’s role in preventing escalation into crisis services, delivering benefits across the wider health and care system.

An image of a doctor taking an older man's blood pressure in surgery room having a check up
Water droplets and ripples falling on the surface of the water

Delivering exceptional value for money

The evaluation also assessed the programme’s broader social impact.

The programme generated an estimated:

  • £291,000 in social value
A model for prevention and early intervention

The findings demonstrate that HELP in the Waiting Room is:

  • Improving mental wellbeing
  • Preventing crisis escalation
  • Supporting people through long waiting periods
  • Reducing demand on NHS and emergency services

As waiting times for statutory services remain high, programmes like HELP are increasingly vital in creating a more resilient, preventative system of care.

An image of the main entrance of the Royal Cornwall Hospital building at Treliske

Credit: With thanks to Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change (CN4C) for providing the data and information for this article

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