Meeting Matt Bishop MP: Supporting Children’s Mental Health in the Forest of Dean

Yesterday, I had the privilege of meeting Matt Bishop, Member of Parliament for the Forest of Dean, at The Spiral Tree in Cinderford. This was a valuable opportunity to discuss the mental health needs of children and young people in our area and explore how local services can work together to provide better support.

Understanding the Challenges

With over 25 years’ experience working with children and families through play therapy, I shared the challenges I see daily—children struggling to express emotions, families navigating complex systems, and gaps in timely mental health provision. We discussed how critical it is for schools, NHS services, and community organisations to collaborate so children can access the support they need, when they need it.

Encouraging Collaboration

I was encouraged by Matt’s engagement and commitment to facilitating conversations between local services and finding practical solutions. Meetings like this remind me that meaningful change happens when professionals, policymakers, and communities work together with a shared focus: improving the wellbeing of children.

Next Steps

Following our discussion, we agreed on a few key actions:

• Setting up a Forest of Dean Mental Health Forum to bring local services together.

• Mapping local need and existing services to identify gaps and areas for improvement.

• Promoting collaboration between schools, NHS, and community services to d

  eliver practical, joined-up support.

• Working towards making the Forest of Dean a centre of excellence for children’s mental health, so families don’t need to travel elsewhere for care.

I look forward to continuing these conversations and working with Matt and other local partners to strengthen the support network for children and families across the Forest of Dean. Together, we can make a real and lasting difference.