Foundations For Our Future

Our commitment to improving the emotional health and wellbeing of children and young people in Sussex

We are committed to improving the services and support provided in Sussex to children and young people aged 0 - 25 years, to help them to manage their mental health and emotional wellbeing.

Our ambition for real improvement is the reason we worked with our partners to commission an independently led review called Foundations for our Future in 2018/19. This allowed us to hear from those who know best how we can provide the right care and support to local children and young people, what works well, and what could be improved. It gave us a greater understanding of what needed to change and has enabled us to work together to take bold and ambitious action to make change happen.

One of the 12 recommendations from the review was the development of a Sussex wide emotional wellbeing and mental health strategy for children and young people aged between 0 - 25 years. The Sussex Foundations for our Future Children and Young People Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Strategy (2022-2027) sets out four key areas for change throughout 2022-2027.

Working in partnership across our communities

Improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people is priority for all statutory health and care organisations in Sussex. This work is a collaboration between:

• Brighton and Hove City Council
• East Sussex County Council
• NHS Sussex
• Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
• West Sussex County Council

We work with a wide range of individuals and groups including staff and experts from the NHS, local authorities, and the VCSE and - importantly - young people and families. Hearing the voices of children, young people, and families as we transform and improve services is a key principle of our work.