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Statistics and evidence

Statistics and evidence

Our support uses tried and tested methods, backed by research.

We collect evidence and data about the work we do and use it to measure our impact. This helps us to constantly improve our services.

Our work has a profound effect on children’s mental health, illustrated by our statistics. With Place2Be’s help, schools become more ‘mentally healthy’ – and society saves money.

The pupils we support


Last year Place2Be supported more than 5,300 pupils through one-to-one counselling. Many of these children and young people face challenges which can make it hard for them to focus at school.

45% have free school meals, 9% are subject to a child protection plan, 6% are subject to a care order and 28% have Special Educational Needs / Additional Support Needs (SEN/ASN).

Children and young people may worry about other things too. Last year around 38,000 pupils chose to book our self-referral breaktime support service (Place2Talk) where they talked to one of our mental health professionals about friendship problems and difficult emotions like sadness and anger.

If you have problems or worries you get a chance to talk to a person you trust. When I grow up I want to help children like Place2Be helps children. 8-year-old-girl

For every £1 invested, our counselling service in primary schools has the potential to return £6.20 to society by improving outcomes for each child, according to research from Pro Bono Economics.

Read the full report (PDF 1.2MB)

Impact on children and young people

After one-to-one counselling with Place2Be, parents tell us that

80%

Of pupils with the highest level of need show an improvement in wellbeing

75%

Of pupils show an improvement in friendships

74%

Of pupils show an improvement at home

Teachers tell us that

68%

of pupils caused fewer problems in class

62%

of pupils found their difficulties had less impact on their learning

Our follow-up study found that children and young people continue to benefit from these improvements one year later

88%

of pupils maintained no/moderate difficulties one year after counselling according to their parents

82%

of pupils maintained no/moderate difficulties one year after counselling according to teachers

The Art Room

83%

of pupils with the highest level of need showed an improvement in wellbeing after visiting The Art Room according to teachers

Impact on families


Last year we ran 14,200 guidance sessions for parents and carers (Parent Partnership), helping them understand and support their child.

We also provided one-to-one counselling for more than 645 family members. 85% showed an improvement in their wellbeing.

Impact on school staff

Last year we held over 16,700 consultation sessions for school staff (Place2Think) to support them with issues such as understanding and managing behaviour, supporting pupils and self-care.

Over 367 school leaders took part in our Mental Health Champions – School Leader programme. 100% of participants who participated in the evaluation felt confident to manage the behaviour of pupils with mental health needs (compared to 69% before).

99% of the 143 teachers who participated in the evaluation of our Mental Health Champions – Class Teacher programme had a high or medium level of knowledge of children’s mental health after training.

News & blogs

children playing hopscotch on school playground

Covid-19 and Children and Young People’s Mental Health: where are we now?

Alex Hartley, Lauren Cross and Professor Tamsin Ford of the University of Cambridge on the mental health impacts of Covid-19.

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three secondary age pupils speaking

Join our Secondary Teacher and Parent Panels

We're looking for volunteers to join our panels and help improve mental health support for young people in secondary schools.

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3 primary aged pupils sat in a school playground, wearing coats, smiling in conversation

Celebrating 20 years of Place2Be in Scotland

This year marks 20 years since Place2Be first started working with schools in Scotland.

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