Imagine being a young person who is hurting, but not knowing who to turn to. 

Imagine a parent lying awake at night, worried about what their child might do next. A teacher watching a young person withdraw, lose confidence or stop coming to school. And imagine reaching the point where help only arrives once things have become a crisis. 

At MAPS Mentoring, we believe young people deserve support before it gets that far. 

Supporting young people before crisis 

Last year, MAPS mentoring supported 222 young people across Sutton. Around one in three were self-harming – meaning approximately 74 young people were experiencing distress that required attention and support. 

Behind every number is a young person who needs someone in their corner. 

MAPS mentors provide something simple but powerful: a consistent, trusted adult who listens without judgement, builds confidence and helps a young person find a way forward. 

For young people receiving this support, mentoring can provide a safe space to talk openly, work through challenges and develop confidence. 

One young person described what mentoring meant to them: 

“Mentoring is a safe space for me to work through hardships and get out of my comfort zone. I've found myself. If I didn't have this I'd definitely be lost but now that mentoring is finishing I know I won't be lost.” 

By working alongside families, schools and children’s services, MAPS provides an important layer of early support, helping young people address difficulties before they escalate. 

Why early intervention matters 

Self-harm is an important warning point for future self-harm and suicidal behaviour. It does not mean that every young person who self-harms will go on to attempt suicide, but it can provide a vital opportunity to understand what is happening and offer support early. 

When difficulties escalate, the impact can extend beyond the young person to their family, education and wider community. 

Education can be disrupted. Parents can face increased pressure. And demand can grow on health, social care and specialist mental-health services. 

Investing in young people 

There is also an economic case for investing in prevention and early intervention. 

Research into adolescent mental-health prevention and early treatment in England estimated a return of approximately  

• A return of approximately £15 for every £1 invested over ten years 

• A return of approximately £55 for every £1 invested over eighty years (Jackson-Morris et al., 2024). 

These figures are not a direct calculation of MAPS’ own financial savings. Instead, they demonstrate the wider potential value of investing in prevention and early intervention. 

The benefits can include better educational outcomes, improved employment prospects and reduced pressure on public services. 

Investing in young people, therefore, is not simply about meeting a need today. 

It is about helping to build healthier lives, stronger families and a stronger Sutton tomorrow. 

Early support can help change that trajectory. 

222 young people. One community. A chance to make a difference. 

MAPS cannot replace specialist mental-health services, and nor should it. Its role is to provide an important layer of early support around young people. 

Sometimes prevention means access to a specialist service. 

Sometimes it means a school putting support in place. 

And sometimes it means a mentor turning up every week and saying: 

“I'm here. Let's work through this together.” 

As another young person explained: 

“For me mentoring is all about letting it all out. It feels like a safe space.” 

For 222 young people last year, that relationship was there. 

With greater investment in early intervention, MAPS can reach more young people at a point when support can make a difference – before they reach crisis point. 

Be part of the change 

Invest early. Change lives. Strengthen Sutton. 

With the right support at the right time, young people can build confidence, develop resilience and find a way forward before difficulties become a crisis. 

But reaching more young people requires a community effort.

Volunteer with MAPS 

Could you become a trusted mentor and give a young person the time, encouragement and safe space they need to work through challenges and build their confidence? 

Find out more about volunteering with MAPS. 

Invest in early intervention 

Are you a funder, business or organisation looking to support young people in Sutton? Your investment could help MAPS reach more young people before they reach crisis point. 

Talk to MAPS about supporting early intervention. Email: maps@vcsutton.org.uk 

Together, we can invest early, change lives and strengthen Sutton.