"I BEG everyone to donate as much as humanely possible as this terrifies me and the children who rely on the service to help them cope."

These are the words of a teenager who goes to SPACE– a support service for children, young people and families experiencing mental health difficulties.

Set up as a pilot project in January, SPACE runs structured group activities, drop-in sessions and one to one support from its base in Spennymoor.

It has provided a lifeline for many County Durham youngsters and families who are desperate for it to continue after NHS funding secured by Success (north East) and Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Trust to establish the service runs out at the end of June.

When asked how they feel about the service and its potential closure, other young people said it has stopped them self-harming, boosted their confidence, helped them cope with anxiety and panic attacks and make friends for the first time.

Parents feel reassured, less isolated, relieved their children are responding to support and families have breathing space and respite during tough times.

They all talk of how SPACE quickly became a safe place to be themselves, knowing everyone there understands.

Project leader Wendy Minhinnett developed the seven-days-a-week service after running the award winning Rollercoaster parent support group for three years.

She said: "We knew that the demand was there from Rollercoaster, this offers extended support.

"I've always believed that with the right support, guidance and information for the whole family you can come out of the other end.

"We can see this service making a positive difference to children and young people's mental health but I really feel this is only the start of this journey, there is so much more we can do for so many more people.

"Mental health is a growing problem, it can happen to anyone at any time."

Ms Minhinnett is hopeful she can secure longer term funding but needs to find up to £90,000 to bridge the gap until that happens.

She feels the service can prevent young people's mental health problems becoming more acute, potentially saving the NHS money.

To promote SPACE, young people and staff have been taking one of their quieter members– a plastic sheep– on tour.

The model is used during therapy sessions as a talking mechanism and every time he faces a problem or meets a new supporter colourful paint is added to his coat.

His travels with SPACE have included a day in London at an event to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the NHS and 25 years of the charity Young Minds, a visit to the BBC Radio Tees studio to raise awareness of mental health and a sleepover with pupils at Walworth Primary School, in Newton Aycliffe.

Ms Minhinnett said: "He came to live at SPACE feeling depressed, lonely, isolated and struggling with anxiety. Here he realised he is not alone, he started to talk and got some coping strategies and is gradually feeling brighter and no longer the black sheep."

Michelle Trainer, manager for CAMHS Crisis and Liaison Team Durham and Darlington at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, said: "The funding was allocated to Success (North East) and Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust following a successful partnership bid to NHS England to provide an enhanced community service for children and young people and their families experiencing mental health difficulties. 

The funding was non recurrent and allocated to Success (North East) to develop and pilot the Space project and to enable sustainable funding to be sought by Success (NE) for the future."

For information or to support SPACE search for Space mental health support for young people on Facebook or call 07572-660374.