Fears over closure of youth counselling service

The Leeds-based service offers face-to-face mental health support for young people

Leaders of a children's mental health charity that has been forced to close have warned young people will be left with nowhere to turn.

The Market Place in Leeds city centre has provided long-term counselling and support for young people in the city for 36 years.

But it will close on Saturday due to a lack of funding, one year after it lost its NHS contract making up the bulk of its revenue.

The West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), which oversees NHS services in the region, said: "A comprehensive range of services and support is available to young people, their families and carers, dependent on their needs."

The Market Place said its closure meant there was no "free, community-based, face-to-face counselling" left for young people in Leeds.

Tenmei, 17, who said he had received "life-changing" counselling from the service, said he was "shocked" and "shattered" at its closure.

"I didn't really know where to go in terms of mental health - I gravitated towards the Market Place because of its inclusive and friendly atmosphere," he said.

"The person I consulted with was very kind and welcoming to me, and didn't invalidate my emotions or experiences. I felt like I was a valued human being."

Isobel Baker has worked at the service for 26 years

Based on Market Street, The Market Place's NHS contract had accounted for 80% of its funding.

When it ended last year, the charity tried to continue with its remaining revenue streams but has now been forced to fold.

Counsellor Isobel Baker, who has worked at the service for 26 years, said staff were "absolutely devastated" by its closure.

"Young people are telling us they don't know where to turn to," she said.

"They're having to manage long-standing and complex difficulties on their own."

She added: "They're being signposted to other services that provide shorter-term interventions, and therefore they're left wondering where to turn to next."

A spokesperson for the ICB said the range of other available support services included "early intervention, counselling and other therapeutic interventions, crisis support, and specialist services for issues such as anxiety, depression, and eating disorders".

"Support is accessible through schools, community organisations, NHS partners, helplines, and digital platforms," they added.

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