Our Partners

We have a collaborative approach and work closely with a wide range of local
partners that have direct links to service delivery. Below are some the key
organisations with whom we work.

Public institutions

We have established a strong relationship with relevant local public institutions such as the Police Crime Commissioner, who have awarded us a grant, as well as the Department of Work and Pensions, Suffolk Libraries, Suffolk County Council, East Suffolk Council and Suffolk and North Essex Integrated Care Board.

Charities and community groups

We work with a variety of local charities and community groups, such as Community Action Suffolk, an organisation which provides or signposts support for Voluntary, Community Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) organisations in Suffolk. We also collaborate with Kooth, an anonymous online chat and emotional well-being service for young people aged 11 to 25. We have particularly close ties with the Green Light Trust, a mental health and well-being charity who put on nature-based activities for children, young people and adults in Suffolk. We work closely with Inspire, a youth charity providing educational programmes, well-being services, sports activities and career guidance to young people under 25. These charities regularly refer young people with mental health challenges to participate in the programme at the Nest.

Research institutions

We have established a relationship with the University of East Anglia, who will be supporting a PhD student to monitor and evaluate the impact of our psychoeducational programme.

Networks

We network and share best practices with other relevant organisations through the Alliance for Children in Care and Care Leavers, a coalition of organisations that work with children and young people who are in care or who have left care, and that share a commitment to improving the care system in England. We are also part of a working group of local charities in the mental health and alternative provision sector, the Suffolk VASP (Voluntary and Statutory Partnership) for mental health, a platform that facilitates the sharing of learning and best practices.

This network seeks to raise awareness and reduce the stigma of mental health problems, enable the formation of partnerships and identify gaps which need addressing. We also network with other social farms to ensure we learn from and build on current innovative work in the sector.

Other relevant partnerships

Health Watch Suffolk: an organisation that gathers and advocates for the views of users of health and social care services in Suffolk, aiming to identify improvements and influence providers’ plans.

East Suffolk rural youth project: funded by East Suffolk Council, this project supports communities to develop youth provision and support for young people living rurally in the district.