More families and children across Tunbridge Wells will be able to access the professional support and therapy offered by local charity Fegans, thanks to the fundraising opportunities offered by the Tunbridge Wells Fringe Festival.
Fegans, which provides professional children’s counselling and family support services has been named as one of the two official charity partners of the not-for-profit festival which will take place from 5 to 18 July across a range of venues in Tunbridge Wells.
Featuring music, opera, cabaret, comedy, dance, theatre, film and visual arts, the Tunbridge Wells Fringe Festival will involve both up and coming and established performers of all ages. A whole range venues from traditional theatres, pubs, hotels and bars as well as outdoor areas will take part, offering local artists an opportunity to perform again to live audiences, and local businesses an opportunity to generate much needed income.
As a not-for-profit project, The Tunbridge Wells Fringe Festival will raise money for Fegans (and another local charity – Taylor-Made Dreams) through ticket proceeds generated from an official charity event, and through collections at performances.
“We are delighted to be involved in the first-ever Tunbridge Wells Fringe Festival which will bring the community of Tunbridge Wells back together in a true celebration of the arts, raising our spirits at the same time as raising much-needed funds for our charity,” says Fegans CEO Ian Soars. “During the pandemic it has not been possible for us to carry out all our usual fundraising activities and yet our waiting lists for counselling continue to grow, so this opportunity has come at a vital time for local families in the area,” he explains.
Before the pandemic roughly three children in every classroom already had a diagnosable mental health disorder* but experts are warning that could now have risen to as many as five in every classroom. Furthermore a recent survey** revealed that 80% of young people with an existing mental health problem found the coronavirus pandemic had made their mental health “much worse.”
Fegans provides one-to-one counselling services at its Tunbridge Wells headquarters and in primary and secondary schools in the area. Its qualified counsellors see around 400 children every week.
To refer a child for counselling please visit www.fegans.org.uk/referrals or call 01892 538288. Bursaries are available for those who are unable to meet the full cost of therapy.
Meanwhile a wealth of parenting and mental health advice including a new series of free guides covering common mental health issues are available from Fegans via its website www.fegans.org.uk
For more information about the Tunbridge Wells Fringe Festival visit www.twfringe.com
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**Based on 12.8% of 5-19-year olds being identified as having a diagnosable mental health condition. https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/mental-health-of-children-and-young-people-in-england/2017/2017
**Survey of 2,036 young people carried out by the charity Young Minds between Friday 6th June and Monday 5th July 2020. https://youngminds.org.uk/media/3904/coronavirus-report-summer-2020-final.pdf
Media Enquiries:
Fegans Contact: Ann-Marie Fisher on 01892 538288
About Fegans
Fegans is a 150-year-old Christian charity that has continually delivered care to children and families according to the needs of each succeeding generation. Today, we counsel children and provide parent support, intervention and training. Combining these disciplines gives Fegans the opportunity to work with families holistically…counselling the child, supporting the parent. www.fegans.org.uk