New funding for mental health could soon be approved for a district in the county which would benefit schoolchildren. 

Cherwell District Council first put forward a motion to increase spending on mental health initiatives at its meeting in July.

The motion, which was proposed by Labour councillor Lynne Parsons, called for the council to increase the length of the existing mental health programme, which was started by the authority's Youth Activators in conjunction with the charity MIND.

This would be made available through all schools.

Council bosses will decide whether to approve the motion at a Cherwell District Council executive meeting on Monday, November 4.

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The proposal also calls for the council to agree to a £3,500 fund, which will be used for research and evidence gathering to assess what mental health provisions young people in the area need, the role of partners and how this can be funded.

This involves providing a 12-week programme in 11 schools per term, which the motion states “will result in all schools in the district benefitting within two years”. 

The increase in spending would be funded by an allocation from the Policy Contingency Budget, according to the proposal.

Around one in five children and young people in Oxfordshire aged between eight and 25 had a probable mental health disorder in 2023, while 3,830 pupils in Oxfordshire are being supported with their social, emotional and mental health.

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