Birmingham Wild Things (360G-tnlcomfund-0045379865)

The funding will be used by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) to support young people whose mental health has been particularly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. This will be delivered at Newbrook Farm Frankly Birmingham. The RSPCA was formed in 1824 becoming a charity in 1964 and a charitable incorporated organisation in 1972. The organisation was established and best known for being an animal welfare organisation with inspectors investigating cruelty giving the public animal care advice and where necessary undertake prosecutions for animal cruelty. The group also deliver education and encourage positive attitudes towards animals and nature with purpose-built education spaces at many of its animal centres. They have a new purpose-built Education Centre at RSPCA Newbrook Farm in Birmingham and an experienced team of Youth Workers at the site playing a leading role in delivering work with young people. They reached almost 2500 children and young people between 2019 - 2020 through a combination of youth school and community activities. The ‘Birmingham Wild Things’ project is aimed at young people who are experiencing poor mental health exacerbated by the pandemic including bi-polar disorder personality disorder depression and anxiety. Many will also be on the autistic spectrum have ADHD or learning disabilities/difficulties. Despite schools having now re-opened since the pandemic many of the young people have not yet returned to school due to high levels of anxiety or have been removed from school due to disruptive behaviour.