ONE of Yorkshire’s most celebrated birds has inspired the name for a new mental health facility for young people.

Planning permission for West Yorkshire’s new child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) unit was granted by Leeds City Council in December, 2019.

Since then, and despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, construction of the new building - based on the St Mary’s Hospital site in Armley, Leeds - has progressed well and to schedule.

Once the work is completed the custom-based unit will provide support for young people from across the county who are experiencing mental health problems.

Its project board wanted to give the building a positive name that would appeal to all ages and have now, after consulting with young people who are using local mental health services and Leeds Community Health Trust Youth Board members, decided to call it Red Kite View.

A board spokesperson said: “The theme of nature emerged as a something positive and favoured by many.

“The name was chosen because the kite is a bird that is well-established in West Yorkshire, and can also be something fun that you fly in the sky.

“The name lends itself well to further naming of the two wards at the unit, as well as a theme for the internal artwork, so board members felt this name would appeal to young people across different ages. Colleagues will be working with our young people in 2021 on helping us to develop the ward names and artwork.”

The unit is on track to receive an ‘excellent’ BREEAM rating in sustainability and is having its internal layout modified to allow for enhanced infection prevention controls and social distancing.

Chief Financial Officer and lead for the project, Dawn Hanwell, said:”“While this year has been tough on so many of us it is great to see the continued progress on the construction of this new unit.

“This will provide a fantastic facility for children and young people experiencing mental health problems across West Yorkshire. It’s a huge and important step forward in the region’s mental health services and will mean that children and young people can get the care they need close to home. This is especially relevant now given the increased strain and unprecedented circumstances children and young people have had to face because of COVID-19.

“I’m looking forward to the completion of the unit towards the end of 2021 – our goal is for the young people to be settled in and celebrating Christmas there next year.”

Red Kite View will replace the current in-patient CAMHS base in Little Woodhouse Hall, Leeds. It is a joint venture between Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust and Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust .