A children’s mental health charity that provides emotional and therapeutic support to schools in Brent has won a grant worth almost £160,000.

Place2Be has been awarded the cash injection from City Bridge Trust, the City of London Corporation’s charitable funder.

Established in 1994, Place2Be has pioneered a whole school approach to supporting mental health, including a range of services to support children, teachers and parents or carers.

The charity aims to address mental health issues in children before they escalate into more serious problems.

It currently works with 282 schools across the country with the support of 1,000 volunteers.

The grant of £159,650 will be split between 32 schools in Brent and neighbouring Ealing.

Each school will have a dedicated Place2Be room full of play and art materials which are used in the counselling sessions.

Catherine Roche, chief executive of Place2Be, said: “We are immensely grateful to City Bridge Trust.

“This generous support will enable us to deliver vital mental health services to children in schools across Brent and Ealing.

“Many of the children supported by Place2Be face complex challenges which affect their behaviour and ability to learn.

“By supporting children’s emotional wellbeing early on, we are helping them to grow up with prospects rather than problems. Together through this fantastic partnership we will build happy, resilient and mentally healthy schools.”

David Farnsworth, director of City Bridge Trust, added: “The charity has grown significantly over the last few years and I hope this will continue and they can help even more children and their families in the future.

“City Bridge Trust is committed to tackling disadvantage across the capital and making London a fairer and better place to live.”

For more information about Place2Be visit place2be.org.uk.