'Let us help you be a voice of hope to young people in your local hospital'

Christian charity Emerge Advocacy, which works with young people who have been admitted to hospital and are struggling with mental health issues, is seeking to partner with more Baptist churches

 
A project with Baptist roots, Emerge launched in 2016 and now works across nine hospital trusts in Kent and Surrey.
 
It supports young people of all faiths and none aged 10-25 attending the Accident and Emergency Department having either attempted or threatened to commit self-harm or suicide. The charity trains volunteers to listen and offer emotional support.
 
Emerge also provides follow up support for young people after hospital to act as a bridge out of their crisis, meeting them on a weekly basis for an initial three-month period post A&E. Such support can be a significant factor in reducing the likelihood of mental health escalation and future emergency department attendances.
 
Emerge, which has received The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in June 2021, works closely with churches and community groups local to hospitals to recruit volunteers to join its teams.
 
The charity is now looking for 'mission driven, compassionate and dynamic churches, their leaders, and congregations to help us bring more support to young people.'


 
Joy Wright created Emerge when she was a member of the youth team at Guildford Baptist Church.
 
She said, 'Mental health charity Young Minds warns the record high number of children and young people receiving care from the NHS tells us that the crisis in young people's mental health is a wave that is breaking now.
 
'In the face of this heart-breaking situation Emerge Advocacy's mission is to be a voice of hope.'

A short film introducing the work of Emerge features the story of Jas. Meeting Emerge at hospital 'made such a difference', Jas explained. 'Even though I was a stranger and didn't even care about myself, something about them being there with me made me feel calmer and safe.'
 
She added, 'They have been the ultimate cheerleaders of my life. Without Emerge I wouldn't be here today.'



 
Emerge is purposely non-clinical and does not perform any clinical functions, but collaborates closely with clinical colleagues and passes on information about young people when necessary. The fact that the majority of its team members freely give their time is 'hugely appreciated' within the hospital by staff and patients, said Joy.
 
'Having the Emerge team in A&E really does make a big difference,' said Dr Alice Cook of Royal Surrey Hospital. 'We're always so busy and we can't give these patients all the time and reassurance that we wish we could.
 
'It's brilliant when Emerge are with one of the patients because we know that that patient will be in a much better place to engage with their assessment and their treatment. As a result they become calmer and less stressed.
 
'Emerge have been such an invaluable asset to A&E - they've helped us enormously.'
 
Emerge is a Cinnamon Network recommended project, which means everything is in place (training, policy, procedures and publicity) to make it replicable in a church.
 
Joy said the charity wants to bring its work to more areas and support more young people in need, and would like to hear from churches interested in setting up an Emerge project.
 
'We love to meet young people where they are, in a moment of need, to bring a voice of hope.
 
'They need your help to get them through this unimaginably hard part of their lives.
 
'Would you be interested working with us and to explore how collectively we can help young people in your community?'
 
 

To find our more about Emerge, visit its website emergeadvocacy.com

To connect with Emerge, contactElizabeth Butlin,Chief Operating Officer: elizabeth@emergeadvocacy.com; or 07900211737