Who are they?
IntraQuest Community is a not-for-profit social enterprise that offers learning and wellbeing support across the Northwest of England. All our services aim to increase self-understanding and hope; their very name means ‘internal journey’. Intraquest firmly believe that there are no lost causes, just causes not yet won.
What do they do and why?
Their services fall under the following headings:
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Training & Professional Support
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Child & Adolescent Therapy
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Whole Family Support
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Schools Packages
All their services have the aim of improving mental health and wellbeing throughout a person’s life. The team are extremely passionate about the work they do, with many of their staff having lived through and experienced mental ill health, bereavement, living in care, developmental trauma, addiction and homelessness. They know that change is possible if given the right support, and consider it a privilege to be a part of the healing journey for each person that joins IntraQuest for support.
What funding did they receive?
IntraQuest were awarded £105,600 loan and £26,400 grant in two phases from December 2021 in order to help grow the services they offer. The investment went gone towards adapting an outbuilding into their own wellbeing centre, providing them with a reception and waiting area, akitchen, child’s therapy space, young person & adult therapy meeting space, a holistic treatment room and washroom facilities. This enabled them to double what they already offered, but also expand their offerings.
“We can’t wait to move in and for our families to experience the space.”
The funding also enabled them to employ a child clinical psychologist to help manage their psychotherapeutic services, as well as some staff training and support in creating their case management system. All of these elements aim to increase their offering, strengthen their infrastructure and provide them with more financial security.
What impact has or will the funding have?
The investment has meant that they will now have a large enough space for all their staff to meet together to support each other, which consequently, helps them to support families more effectively.
“Although it’s early days in terms of funding impact, it is already apparent that the new space will bring much healing and support for our families.”
Intrauest’s therapists have already accessed some of the training provided through the investment and are now trained to deliver a neurodiverse model of therapy predominantly for primary aged children. This has enhanced both their knowledge base and skill set, as well as the support they can offer the neurodiverse community.
It has already had a great impact on the families they work with, with some children now engaging in play with their peers, where they wouldn’t have previously.
“The funding is helping to change lives one person at a time.”
Intraquest are looking to hire a clinical psychologist’s. Find out more here.
They support schools in providing therapeutic support. Find out about their offer to schools here.
They also provide a clinical supervision programme for schools, which is evidence-based, independently reviewed and includes peer supervision and individual clinical supervision support. Find out more here.
This investment was funded by The Growth Fund; a partnership between The National Lottery Community Fund and Big Society Capital, delivered by Access through a range of social investors. It makes up to £50m available to support charities and social enterprises to grow and create social impact in their communities. The Growth Fund uses a combination of grant funding, made possible thanks to National Lottery players, and loan finance from Big Society Capital and other co-investors, to address specific gaps in the social investment market.
