Who we are
Children’s mental health charity
Blue Smile is a leading children’s mental health charity dedicated to transforming the life chances of young people across Cambridgeshire through expert, arts based therapeutic support.
We provide a ‘whole school’ approach for mental wellbeing, with one to one arts based therapy for children aged 3 to 13 and a Menu of Services program, including workshops for groups of children and staff, teacher and parent support.
We work using proven arts based therapies which engage the child in a non-threatening way, helping them to organise their feelings and process traumatic experiences.
So far our highly skilled therapists and mentors have helped hundreds of children to be happier and feel better.
Proud local history
Blue Smile was founded by our former Clinical Director, Amanda Langford who set up the charity in 2010 and established our clinical work to exemplary standards.
We put children at the heart of everything we do.
Nearly 500 children and young people were consulted in the development of Blue Smile in 2010. They advised us on what would work best for them and chose our name, which they felt to be friendly, accessible and stigma free.
Since our launch, with the help of an anonymous donation, Blue Smile has been able to support over 2,200 children aged 3 to 13 to be happier and learn better, thanks to delivering nearly 37,000 therapy and mentoring sessions in over 50 schools.
Why we’re important
Half of all lifetime mental health problems emerge by the age of 14.
We know that early intervention and expert support can prevent problems worsening and give children the best possible chance of recovery at a young age, freeing them to enjoy life.
Sometimes, Blue Smile is called upon to help a child at crisis point, but our aim is to intervene early because when a child is struggling with difficult emotions such as grief, anger, worry or shame, they are not free to play, grow and learn.
Our highly skilled therapists also work with parents, carers and school staff to ensure each child is heard, understood and helped towards a brighter future.
Our support gives children their childhood back.
Our mission and values
Our vision:
A world where happier children have brighter futures
Our mission:
To transform the mental health and life chances of children across Cambridgeshire
To advance our mission, we have three core aims:
• To deliver an excellent mental health service, underpinned by evidence and research, to meet children’s mental health needs most effectively
• To increase reach through additional services which impact the whole school community
• To grow as a strong, stable and sustainable organisation
Working with partners
Blue Smile works with other organisations to support children and their families.
Fullscope is a consortium of charities with a shared mission to improve the mental health and well-being of children and young people in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. We know that these improvements will be better realised if we work together.
The overarching aim of Fullscope is to work collaboratively to enable communities to raise happier, healthier children who are resilient and empowered in their mental wellbeing.
Find out more at www.fullscopecollaboration.org.uk.
Experts in our field
We’re a member of The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, a professional association for members of the counselling professions in the UK.
Their desire for social justice determines everything we do and guides our relationship with our members and the public, as well as commissioners and government.
They champion the counselling professions as a viable, and increasingly evidence based choice for people.
Find out more at www.bacp.co.uk.
Living Wage employer
We are members of the Living Wage Foundation.
The foundation is an independent movement of businesses and people that campaign for the idea that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay.
They celebrate and recognise the leadership of responsible employers who choose to go further and pay a real Living Wage based on the cost of living, not just the government minimum.
Find out more at www.livingwage.org.uk.
