Place2Be uses evidence and experience to shape policy across the UK.

Our policy recommendations are based on what we learn through our work in schools. We then use these recommendations to improve children and young people’s mental health across England, Wales and Scotland.

We also seek opportunities to work with policymakers who can help deliver our mission to ensure that no child or young person faces mental health problems alone.

We influence policy by sharing our evidence and recommendations with political inquiries and consultations.

In addition to providing evidence to consultations, we work directly with politicians to show them the impact of our work in schools providing mental health support.

Some of the methods we use include:

• visits to our partner schools
• meeting MPs and Peers in Parliament 
• holding and attending events
• asking questions to the Government
• writing letters to the Ministers and Prime Minister
• giving politicians briefings with information for their speeches in debates.

Children's Mental Health Week

One of the main ways we engage politicians every year is through Children’s Mental Health Week. As part of Children’s Mental Health Week 2025, Place2Be worked with politicians, organisations and young people to boost children’s health and wellbeing.

• Nearly 50 MPs and Peers came to our event in the Houses of Parliament, to hear about our policy work and recommendations to help children thrive at school
• The Prime Minister, Mental Health Minister, Skills Minister and Leader of the House all spoke about the importance of Children’s Mental Health Week in Parliamentary debates.
• Pupils from Heathmere Primary School wrote messages of support to MPs, and received their own words of wisdom in return.
• Young people from Oasis Academy Southbank delivered speeches about their experience of mental health support at school.
• 59,000 children and young people across the country debated the question “Does learning about your emotions help you to feel better?” in collaboration with Place2Be and Votes for Schools.
• Dr Simon Opher MP wrote a guest blog setting out the importance of Place2Be’s work in being proactive to support mental health.
• The Government, Children’s Commissioner, MPs, charities and the NHS showed their support on social media, sharing the #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek hashtag.