Cross borough collaboration for Youth Mental Health Services

14 May 2026

Delegates from across east London’s Youth Mental Health Services.

At East London Dance, we believe mental health and wellbeing are not an add-on to our services, they are fundamental – creativity and wellbeing sit side by side and one cannot exist without the other. 

For nearly 40 years, East London Dance has worked across east London supporting children, young people, families and artists through creative practice. Over the past decade alone, our wellbeing-focused work has supported more than 1,200 young people to build confidence, connection and a sense of belonging. Many tell us our spaces feel safe. 

This Mental Health Awareness Week, we’re reflecting on the power of partnership and what becomes possible when charities, communities and clinicians come together with a shared purpose of giving the best support possible to young people. 

At East London Dance, we’re committed to improving access to early intervention and preventative support for young people’s mental health. We know that young people don’t live their lives within borough boundaries, so our systems of care shouldn’t either. 

Mariana Willmersdorf Steffen, on behalf of East London Dance, Sharing her Newham and Waltham Forest Youth Mental Health Service mapping findings 

Earlier this month, we shared our initial research findings around potential cross borough learnings and collaboration, following funding from Compass Wellbeing to compare and find common ground for approaches to creative youth mental health services in Newham and Waltham Forest.  

The sharing brought together an amazing collection of frontline youth mental health service providers from a number of east London boroughs – New-Mac, Fair Access and CAMHS to name a few – to deepen the conversation by exploring what works, how to tackle the current challenges, and where we can find greater opportunities for a more joined up approach. 

Breakout conversations at the research and mapping sharing

What stood out most was the value of open, cross‑sector dialogue. These conversations help surface practical insights, strengthen relationships, and support the potential of more equitable access to care across communities. 

This was the beginning of a conversation that will hopefully continue and thrive. But moments like this remind us that meaningful change happens when we come together to learn, share knowledge and focus on championing support systems that reflect the realities of young people’s lives. 

By Nzinga Mascall, Community and Wellbeing Manager, East London Dance

The research shared at the event was funded by Compass Wellbeing and undertaken on behalf of East London Dance by Mariana Willmersdorf Steffen.