Started by parents, for parents
APCAM began in June 2017 when two local parents, both with children struggling with their mental health, realised there was nowhere to turn while they waited for help.
So we made one. We started a drop-in where parents could talk, be heard and meet others who understood. In November 2019 we became a registered charity.
These days we support young people as well as their parents. We offer free 1:1 therapy, drop-ins for young people, hands-on help for families dealing with SEND, school, benefits and housing, and WeGame, our inclusive gaming programme. You'll find us at Carterton Family Centre and Witney Corn Exchange, and CAMHS and GPs across West Oxfordshire refer families to us, something we're really proud of.
Why we do it
Many of the families we meet have been struggling for a long time. A child with anxiety can't face school, so a parent can't get to work, and before long the whole household is running on stress.
Statutory services are stretched, and families often fall through the gaps. We try to catch them, with support that's local, free and personal.
The story so far
- June2017
Where it began
We started at Carterton Town Hall, wanting to give parents somewhere to go when their child was in a mental health crisis. A cup of tea, some comfort and a shoulder to cry on, from people who'd been through the same.
- November2019
A registered charity
After months of hard work, APCAM was registered with the Charity Commission.
- 2020
Lockdown
When lockdown hit, we made a series of videos with the help of the fantastic Natalie Hunt Training, to support families and young people whose mental health was suffering.
- 2021
A home in Carterton
West Oxfordshire District Council heard about our work and asked us to set up a community support service to fill the gaps in local care. With a £20,000 grant and four weeks to do it, we got stuck in and found our home at Carterton Family Centre.
The funding was meant to last six months. We're still here!
- 2022
Support for SEND families
We started supporting parents of children with SEND too, helping with EHCPs, school avoidance and speaking up for families. In the early days our volunteers and trustees did all of this themselves.
- 2023
Opening in Witney
Thanks to funding from Witney Town Council, we opened our Witney support service, so families in the town could get help on their doorstep.
- February2025
WeGame launches
We launched WeGame for young people who've lost touch with school or activities, struggle with social anxiety, or come from low-income homes. It's a relaxed weekend session built around online and in-person gaming.
WeGame is now commissioned by West Oxfordshire District Council and Yellow Submarine, and ran its first summer programme in 2026.
- 2026
A year of growth
A big year for us. The West Oxfordshire Youth Partnership paid for two of our team to train as youth workers and funded some new pilot projects. A Better Mental Health grant from Oxfordshire Community Foundation means we can now offer a third more therapy, so more young people and parents can be seen.
Our Parent Support Service has grown too, helping families with a wider range of issues, from education to housing and benefits.
Our core principles
- Respecting differing lived experiences
- Inclusion and accessibility
- Early help and interventions
- Community-led support
- Advocating for families and young people
