Collaboration in Action

(Note: the name of the young person featured in this case study has been changed) 

Chris’s early life was shaped by instability and trauma. He endured parental domestic abuse in London and racial abuse in Devon, which led to serious mental health decline and even a suicide attempt. Recognising that Chris needed a fresh start, social services relocated him to Greater Manchester. 

Struggling in mainstream education and facing involvement with the criminal justice system through fights linked to emotional dysregulation, Chris’s future looked uncertain. 

It was at this point that Chris encountered Kealy, who works for the Greater Manchester Mental Healthcare Trust (GMMH) within the Children and Young People’s Positive Health Pathway Service. The service specialises in early intervention with young people involved in the criminal justice system, helping them to recognise unmet health needs and diverting them away from further involvement. 

Kelly worked alongside David, a member of GMMH’s Expert by Experience Team, who used his own lived experience to help co-produce therapeutic pathways. Together, they built a relationship of trust with Chris and gave him a safe and supportive framework.

 During their first consultation, Chris identified that he wanted more from life. With guidance from Kealy and David, he chose to engage with trauma therapy rather than continue down the criminal justice path. Six months of hard revision followed, and Chris successfully completed his GCSEs. With Kealy and David’s help, he was able to secure a bursary-funded place on a basketball course at a boarding college. 

While Chris had the determination and the IT skills, digital poverty created a serious barrier. Without equipment of his own, Chris was forced to borrow a laptop and phone to complete college applications. Once at boarding college, he relied on library computers late at night, limiting his study time and isolating him from family. 

Kealy and David recognised that without the right tools, Chris’s progress could stall. This is where collaboration came in. 

Through a partnership with Community Computers, a not-for-profit tackling digital poverty initiative, Chris received a refurbished laptop – symbolising the power of joined-up working. 

This laptop has been transformational:

• Education: Chris can now complete coursework from his room, removing barriers to learning. 
• Family Connection: With FaceTime, he can stay connected to his mother without costly weekend travel.
• Future Opportunities: As basketball may take him internationally, digital access ensures he can stay in touch and keep building towards his goals. 

The combined efforts of GMMH staff, including Kealy’s professional support and David’s lived experience input, together with the practical intervention from Community Computers, have created a pathway for Chris to succeed.  

Chris’s story is a powerful example of how collaborative action can change lives. The laptop is repurposed by Community Computers, represents more than just technology. It embodies resilience, partnership, and a belief in Chris’s potential. 

Together, GMMH and Community Computers have played a crucial role in ensuring that Chris’s positive direction of travel continues, showing how shared resources and expertise can build brighter futures.