Cleveland health workers were so impressed by a children's project in Brazil, they invited the team behind it to Teesside to find out more.

Raquel Guzzo, professor of psychology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas in Brazil, and a student colleague met staff from Tees and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service to explain more about their project.

Dr Joe Reilly, the Teesside trust's lead on research and development, and Jacqui Lovell, research and development co-ordinator, discovered Prof Guzzo's work on the Internet.

When they read about the work carried out in Brazil with children at risk from violence or poverty, Dr Reilly decided to personally fund the trip.

He said: "The Brazilian team works with children from families in which there is a high-level of violence, with many brothers and sisters and a general lack of time, space or toys for play.

"Professor Guzzo devotes much of her spare time to running this project with the voluntary support of her students.

"Our trust serves some of the poorest areas in the country where some children in contact with mental health services face similar family problems."

Prof Guzzo presented a paper at the Critical Psychology Conference, in Bath, at the weekend and also met clinicians from the trust with a view to developing international links, sharing best practice and research.