2025 - Off the Record
Off the Record Bath & North East Somerset (OTR) supports the mental health and emotional wellbeing of 10–25-year-olds, reaching more than 2,500 young people each year in open access services within the community as well as through work in partnership with schools, Bath College and the University of Bath.
Young people turn to OTR for support with issues such as anxiety, depression, bullying, bereavement, identity concerns and family relationships. Their 1:1 listening services are free, confidential, and accessible with no threshold for support — young people can simply self-refer when they need help.
Around 60% of the young people accessing OTR’s services are girls and young women. Many go on to engage further through OTR’s participation programme or by training and volunteering as Youth Workers or Listening Support Workers.
ACTION
In 2025, Off The Record was awarded the Bath Women’s Fund main grant of £15,000 to continue delivering its community Listening Service for girls and young women in Twerton and Whiteway.
The Bath Women’s Fund grant will enable OTR to sustain and strengthen its Listening Service for girls and young women in Twerton and Whiteway — communities experiencing some of the highest levels of deprivation locally and nationally. With this support, OTR will improve the wellbeing and future prospects of at least 80 girls and young women in these areas.
The Listening Service brings OTR’s established therapeutic service directly into the community, providing a trusted and local space where young women feel safe to talk, connect and seek support. OTR has prioritised this service for girls and young women in Twerton and Whiteway, wards within the 10% most deprived areas in England, where women’s life expectancy is 11 years lower than the national average and the likelihood of developing mental health difficulties is significantly higher.
To ensure the service reaches those who need it most, OTR works closely with partners from Twerton and Whiteway Community Network, BaNES Children and Young People’s Network, 3SG and local GP surgeries and schools to promote the project and support referrals. This collaborative approach strengthens community connections and helps ensure that young women can access timely, trusted support close to home.
IMPACT
The Bath Women’s Fund grant will allow OTR to continue the Listening Service for a further six months, improving the mental health and wellbeing of at least 80 girls and young women in Twerton and Whiteway.
In 2024, young people accessing OTR’s Listening Services reported significant improvements:
CORE-10 psychological therapy scores reduced from 17.53 to 9.42
98% would recommend OTR BaNES to a friend
86% felt more positive
74% felt more resilient and better able to overcome challenges
OTR expects similar positive outcomes for the girls and young women supported through this project, helping them feel heard, empowered and better equipped to navigate life’s challenges.
“I have a safe space to come to each week. I’m comfortable talking about my challenges without worrying or burdening my already stretched family, and I know I can be completely open.”— Listening Service participant
The support from Bath Women’s Fund will play a crucial role in providing accessible, life-changing mental health support to young women who face disproportionate levels of disadvantage and enable OTR to continue delivering early-intervention support that builds confidence, resilience and hope — offering girls and young women the chance to thrive.
To find out more about Off The Record visit their website.