The organisers of the 2013 Value Investor Conference are pleased that the Conference raised a total of £34,292.04 for Place2Be.

Place2Be is the leading UK provider of school-based emotional and mental health services. Founded in 1994, Place2Be works in over 170 schools reaching 64,000 children and their families, mostly in areas of high deprivation. The award-winning charity seeks to improve the prospects of children aged 4-14 years, by tackling the complex social issues that result in educational disadvantage.

Research has shown that 80% of children showing behavioural problems at the age of five go on to develop more serious forms of anti-social behaviour. Early intervention within a school environment with very young children offers the best and most cost-effective method of improving their lives by helping them develop the resilience to cope with distress.

Place2Be’s accessible, non-stigmatising support effectively removes the emotional barriers to learning and prevents the downward spiral that can lead to low aspirations, poor educational achievement, truancy and exclusion from school. It helps improve children’s classroom learning and academic progress, providing them with brighter prospects and hopeful futures.

Because it is an integrated school-based service supporting children, parents, teachers and school staff, Place2Be becomes a trusted part of the school and the wider community. Its core services are delivered by its clinical staff and highly skilled Volunteer Counsellors. It measures and evaluates the outcomes of its work, demonstrating the positive impact of its interventions. It delivers value for money: an assessment of the economic impact of Place2Be’s services indicated that for every £1 spent on early intervention support, there is a return on investment of £6 in terms of savings to society.

Benita Refson, OBE is Chief Executive and Founding Trustee at Place2be and addressed delegates to talk about the important work the charity does.