SWANSEA: Children’s mental health service based in city wins national award for its work in more than 800 schools

A Swansea-based children’s mental health service has been named School Wellbeing Support Specialists of the Year at a national awards ceremony recognising innovation and excellence in mental health support.

The Exchange programme, delivered by Health is One, picked up the title at the 2026 Global Health and Pharma Mental Health Awards.

The annual awards celebrate organisations across the UK that demonstrate innovation and commitment in mental health support.

The Exchange has been operating for nearly two decades, working with ten local authorities across the UK to deliver counselling and therapeutic support in more than 800 schools.

The Exchange team celebrate winning School Wellbeing Support Specialists of the Year at the 2026 GHP Mental Health Awards. Picture: Health is One

It is headquartered in Swansea – making the win a significant recognition for a service rooted in south-west Wales.

The award reflects the service’s approach to embedding counselling within a wider, coordinated response to children’s needs – what the team describes as a “whole-system approach.”

The Exchange works with teachers, families and wider services to identify concerns early and provide practical, age-appropriate support – across home, school, health and community settings.

The therapy offered ranges widely depending on the needs of each child.

It includes one-to-one and group counselling, play-based therapy for younger children, creative approaches for children with additional learning needs, and structured support for young people experiencing anxiety, low mood or difficulties in relationships.

The programme works in close partnership with health services, local authorities and third sector organisations.

This collaborative model is designed to reduce demand on specialist provision and provide more community-based responses to mental health concerns affecting children and young people.

For The Exchange, the award reflects an approach focused on building capacity within schools and strengthening links between universal services and specialist mental health provision.

Emma Davies, Director at Health is One, said the recognition mattered because it reflected what the team knew worked for children in Wales.

“The Exchange functions as part of a whole-system response, working alongside schools, families, local authorities and health services to make sure children receive the right support at the right time,” she said.

She said the team remained committed to delivering services that reflected those priorities. “We are proud that our work is recognised at a national level, and we remain committed to delivering services that genuinely reflect those priorities,” she said.

The Exchange’s recognition comes at a time when children’s mental health services across Wales – and the wider UK – are under increasing pressure, with rising demand for support and long waits for specialist provision in many areas. The Welsh Government previously pledged an extra £9.4m investment in children and young people’s mental health services in recognition of growing demand.

Other Swansea-based programmes have also been recognised for their work in this space, including the Bouncing Back Plus classroom and exercise programme which is delivering wellbeing support to primary school children across the city.

Schools and families seeking more information about The Exchange programme, or wishing to make a referral, can find further details on the Health is One website.

#CAMHS #HealthIsOne #mentalHealth #mentalHealthSupport #Swansea #TheExchange

SWANSEA: Parents’ long fight for answers after son’s hidden ADHD and autism battle

Tobias and Marc, who adopted their son Luke at 18 months, said they reached “crisis point” after being placed on a three-year NHS waiting list for an assessment.

They described how their son, now nine, would “mask” his difficulties at school, only to release the emotional strain in volatile meltdowns at home.

“He could hold everything together at school, but the moment he got in the car the pressure came out all at once,” Tobias said.

“We tried so many different strategies, different parenting styles and nothing made a difference. We knew something wasn’t right, but without a diagnosis nobody could offer us practical help.”

The family’s struggle comes as Senedd Research reveals an 87% rise in the number of children and young people in Wales waiting for an autism or ADHD assessment, with 45% waiting more than a year.

After reaching breaking point, the family sought a private assessment through Neuropathways, part of Health is One. Within two weeks, Luke had a full diagnostic report confirming both ADHD and autism.

“It was a huge relief,” his dad said. “For the first time we had an explanation for why things were so difficult for Luke.”

The support that followed the diagnosis, they say, “completely changed their life.”

Neuropathways’ psychologist arranged a multi-agency meeting with Luke’s school, helping both home and school understand they were seeing different parts of the same picture.

Emma Davies, Director at Neuropathways, explained: “Masking meant Luke’s school saw a very capable and compliant child, while at home his parents were dealing with the impact of him holding everything in all day. That contrast is something many families experience, and it can be incredibly difficult without a shared understanding of what the child is coping with.”

A “Transition Home Strategy” was created, with simple but effective steps like decompression time, a predictable routine, and sensory regulation tools.

“It helped him come home in a calmer state,” his dads said. “Something so small made a huge difference and we started to see a much happier version of Luke.”

Since receiving support, the family say daily life has improved significantly, describing last Christmas as “the calmest and most enjoyable we’ve ever had”.

Luke’s school performance has also improved, and he is now able to think about his future, saying he wants to design the instructions for Lego when he’s older.

The experience has inspired Tobias and Marc to write a children’s book about masking, The Boy in the Invisible Mask, to help other families recognise the signs they spent years trying to understand.

“We don’t want any other family to feel alone or unheard,” they said. “A diagnosis isn’t the end of the journey; it’s the start of understanding what a child needs. The support afterwards is what really changes things.”

#ADHD #Autism #HealthIsOne #mentalHealth #NeurodevelopmentalServices #NHSWaitingLists #parenting #Swansea