Our story

2017: First Concert

Passionate and driven about the current plight of young people’s mental health, Young Minds Matter was formed in 2017 by way of a charity concert, with the aim of not only showcasing the musical talents of some extraordinary young people, but also to bring the audience some inspirational speakers. Together with some moving video interviews with young people, we managed to raise a phenomenal total of £37,100, as well as raising awareness of the mental health challenges they were facing, in a positive and uplifting manner. 

2020: Young Minds Matter was born

2021: Mentoring Pilot Scheme

We started with a pilot scheme in two secondary schools in June 2021.

2023: Where we are now?

We have now grown to providing mentors in 8 primary and secondary schools and also 1 apprenticeship provider. We offer free 1:1 mentoring for any young person, no matter what their needs are. We also work closely with local and national mental health professionals and charities to ensure that young people are supported in the way that’s right for them, signposting them to further support if necessary.

Our young people

An integral part of what Young Minds Matter does is to have young people at its core in everything we do, from the organisation and participation in events, to the appointment of young people to our Trustee Board. Our mentors are always listening to and learning from the young people they work with to ensure our support is appropriate for their needs.

Our Mission, Values & Vision

Mission

Mission

Our mission is to provide talented, committed and highly-trained mentors in schools in order to support young people.  We want to encourage young people to view accessing support as a beneficial part of their education and development and to remove the stigma associated with mental health.  We also want to showcase and champion young people’s development and talent, offering them the opportunity to take part in concerts, events and initiatives. By doing this, we can empower young people to take ownership and responsibility for their future wellbeing, with pride and enthusiasm

Values

Values

At Young Minds Matter everything we do is driven by our values.  We all have a genuine passion and empathy for supporting the mental health and emotional wellbeing of young people and one of the ways we do this is by empowering them with the skills to build resilience, focus and self- esteem. We always listen with a compassionate, non-judgemental and supportive ear.  We believe in equality and inclusivity and this is a driver in providing our mentoring service free of charge.

Vision

Vision

Our vision is a world where every young person receives the support they deserve, to build resilience, self-esteem and focus to enable them to live a purposeful and happy life.