A YORKSHIRE NHS Trust has set up an online trial that will create virtual therapy groups for young people who attend school in Bradford and have access to a PC, laptop, smart phone or tablet.

Called the ‘Home Goals’ trial, it is for children and young people experiencing emotions such as stress, worry and low mood. It aims to improve their mental and emotional wellbeing, teaching them about the brain, how they experience emotions and how they can cope with them.

Grounded Research, the research team at RDaSH (Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humberside NHS Trust), have launched the trial, which also includes a short physical online activity session run by staff from Bradford City Football Club. The trial is supported by The Yorkshire Sport Foundation.

Dr Victoria Laker, who is leading on the trial for Grounded Research says: “Everyone can experience emotions such as stress, worry and low mood, but with the Covid-19 pandemic support for children and young people feeling this way is especially stretched.

“We would like to find young people between 11 and 18 who would benefit from participating in research looking at improving these feelings. Our study could benefit someone you know and care for.”

Each therapy group runs for one hour after school for six weeks with the physical activity adapted to try at home, led by.

The session will then focus on helping young people to learn about how and why anxiety and depression occur, and how we can learn ways of managing them. Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires and they will be entered into prize draws for £20 and £50 amazon vouchers.

Debra Cummins, Development Manager at The Yorkshire Sport Foundation says: “We’re delighted to support such an important trial. Sport is a powerful way to engage young people, and as well as this allowing them to access the additional support they need, research tells us that being physically active plays a significant role in better mental health and wellbeing.” Email rdash.groundedresearch@nhs.net for more information.