The charity Mind of the Student received funding from Kent Community Foundation for a series of mental health workshops
Students from the Longfield Academy, attended mental health workshops on 27 March provided by Mind of the Student, after the Channel Ports Fund, administered by Kent Community Foundation, awarded them £1,500.
Mind of the Student is dedicated to enhancing youth mental health through the transformative power of education. Their vision is to cultivate an environment where every young individual is empowered to openly discuss mental health within educational settings.
Their workshops equip young people, both in and outside of school environments, with the necessary knowledge and skills to proactively address their mental health needs and the confidence to break down the stigma surrounding mental health.
The funding from grant maker Kent Community Foundation has covered the cost of delivering a whole-school mental health workshop day, reaching 1000 young people who attend the Longfield Academy.
Ms Liasu, from Longfield Academy said, “Today, we were delighted to welcome visitors from the organisation Mind of the Student. Mind of the Student (MOTS) gives young people the confidence to speak about their mental health. Their approach ensures no student in school goes without essential training on mental health; the workshop equips them with the knowledge, confidence and skills to recognise and address their own mental health needs.”
Kieran Goodwin, who launched Mind of the Student said, “The Mind of the Student workshops offer young people a clinically researched toolbox of ways in which they can begin to recognise, deal with and seek help for their own issues related to mental health. The workshops focus on depression, anxiety, social media pressures and exam stress. Schools do have a statutory obligation to provide mental health support for their students, however due to time constrains, staff shortages, funding cuts and untrained teachers on mental health, the demand is very rarely met.
Our school workshops ensure every student receives mental health education, which most schools are unable to provide. Together, we’re building a future where every young person feels safe, supported, and empowered to speak up. A future where mental health isn’t a burden, but a conversation.”
Natalie Smith, Director of Grants and impact and Deputy Chief Executive said, “Kent Community Foundation was delighted to recommend that the Channel Ports Fund award a grant to Mind of the Student. Their workshops yield substantial benefits for both individual school students and the broader community. They explained that their workshops foster an increased awareness and confidence among students in seeking professional support, along with enhanced emotional resilience and life skills. Their application for support fitted perfectly within our funding priorities and we are looking forward to the feedback from this initiative.”
To contact Kent Community Foundation about funding for charities and community groups email admin@kentcf.org.uk or visit www.kentcf.org.uk/funding
Notes to Editors
A Mind of the Student survey indicates that two-thirds of young people lack confidence in seeking mental health support, and half struggle to self-regulate during emotional distress. According to NHS Digital (2020), these issues grew by 30% between 2017 and 2020, with 78% of young people attributing their worsened mental health to the secondary school experience (Mind, 2021).
18% of children and young people in Kent live in poverty. The issue is stark, with disadvantaged communities facing higher risks, hindering physical and cognitive development across multiple domains. (Local Government Association, 2024; Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 2023; Centre for Longitudinal Studies, 2023; Kent Community Health).
With 23% of 11-19-year-olds expected to face significant mental health difficulties (Resolution Foundation, 2024), Mind of the Student say their work remains crucial in supporting young people’s well-being and educational attainment.
The British Journal of Psychiatry (2018) stated that an increase in mental health literacy, which the Mind of the Student programmes provide, will assist in prevention, early intervention, effective self-management, and support for others in the community.
About Mind of the Student
Mind of the Student was launched by Kieran and Jaylan who both struggled with their mental health in school. They are on a mission to transform the support young people get at school, so no one feels how they did.
