A Hitchin charity that helps young people deal with mental health issues has been awarded a grant of more than £43,000.

BBC Children in Need has given the year-long grant to Tilehouse Counselling, based at Coach House off Tilehouse Street – which works with 70 young people from Hitchin, Stevenage and the surrounding towns and villages.

Tilehouse Counselling director Sue Barnes told the Comet she and her team were delighted by the grant, which would fund work with 14 youngsters for a year.

“The demand for counselling, particularly from young people, is escalating rapidly,” she said.

“Any funds we get in mean more young people get counselling with us.

“We think it’s important that we remain open to provide vital emotional support to young people in our community. We’re working very hard to do that and are constantly fundraising.”

She added: “The funding will enable us to continue working without judgement, valuing and respecting each and every young person who engages with our service from initial enquiry to the end of their counselling with us.”

The charity’s counsellors are all fully trained and accredited. They use sand tray work, collage, clay and more to engage with youngsters who struggle to find an emotional language, and help them to speak openly about issues they find difficult.

BBC Children in Need relies on millions of pounds raised by the public every year, and supports more than 2,600 projects supporting youngsters in communities across the UK.

Children in Need chief executive Simon Antrobus said: “A huge thank you to our generous supporters – it’s wonderful to be able to award this new funding to projects working with disadvantaged children and young people in local communities right across the UK.

“The money so generously donated makes it possible for us to fund much needed projects like these, making a positive difference to young lives.”

Tilehouse Counselling also received a £4,964 grant from North Herts District Council’s Hitchin committee last month.

Fundraisers coming up for the Hitchin charity include a night of music at St Paul’s Walden Bury on May 18, and the Rose Ball at Princess Helena College in Preston on June 23.

To find out more about the charity and how you can get involved, call 01462 440674 or have a look at tilehouse.org.