When Branch launched in November 2024, it marked the beginning of a new way of supporting children and young people’s mental health in Wirral. It wasn’t just the launch of a digital platform; it was the start of a whole-system change. Built on collaboration, co-design, and a shared belief that things could be done differently.
Now, nearly a year on, Branch is becoming part of everyday life for families, professionals and young people across the borough. More than 1,000 referrals have already been made through the platform, schools and GPs are using it with confidence, and families are telling us they feel clearer about where to turn for help.
Branch was designed to grow, adapt, and respond to feedback.
Alongside the successes, there have been challenges: balancing ambition with resources, adapting to new ways of commissioning, and making sure young people’s voices stayed central even when time was tight. But those challenges are part of the story too, and they’ve shaped Branch into something stronger.
The Blueprint
With almost a year of real-world learning behind us, we’ve captured the journey of developing Branch into a Blueprint. It tells the story of how Branch came to be: the risks taken, the hurdles overcome, and the ingredients that make it work.
The Blueprint isn’t a step-by-step manual. Every place is different, and what works in Wirral won’t slot neatly into another area. Instead, it’s an open resource – a way of sharing what we’ve learned so far, and an invitation to others who might be curious about trying new approaches to children’s mental health support.
Looking ahead
Branch is still young, but it has already shown that systems can change when people work differently: pooling resources in new ways, designing with young people rather than to them, and building trust across services to enable us to do better for young people and families.
The Blueprint is our way of putting those lessons into the world, in the hope that they spark ideas, conversations, and maybe even new collaborations elsewhere.
Because while Branch is rooted in Wirral, the values behind it — collaboration, courage, and co-design — are universal.
Want to hear more about how we made Branch happen? Or interested in how you can make a real impact for children, young people and families? Get in touch at hello@thisiscapacity.co.uk
