Partnering with Gravesham Schools
We work closely with school heads and their pastoral teams to provide additional support for young people whose needs go beyond the school’s internal resources. By collaborating with us, schools can direct students to specialist counselling, above their own internal resources capability, ensuring that every student receives the appropriate care. This partnership approach strengthens the safety net around vulnerable young people, promoting better long-term mental health outcomes.
Supporting Informed Decision-Making
At the Elliott Holmes Memorial Fund, we collect and analyse statistical data to better understand the mental health challenges faced by young people aged 13-18 in Gravesham. By sharing this data with local secondary schools, as well as Kent Police, and other like-minded organisations, we help these institutions to make informed decisions. Access to accurate, up-to-date information enables them to provide targeted support where it is most needed. By working together with a shared understanding of the mental health landscape, we create a more supportive and resilient community for young people.
Promoting Early Intervention
Timely access to relevant data allows organisations to identify early signs of mental health struggles within the community. Through proactive intervention, professionals can offer appropriate support before issues escalate. This collaborative, data-informed approach increases the effectiveness of mental health services, ensuring young people receive the right care at the right time. Our commitment to responsible data sharing is a vital step towards promoting positive mental health outcomes in Gravesham.
Bookmark programme
Unveiled during a school-wide assembly of over 1,200 students in 2024, the bookmark features essential guidance for students facing mental health challenges. It also provides details on how to independently seek counselling through EHMF’s unique online platform.
Peter Scutts, Director of EHMF, emphasised, “Three out of four people who take their own life have not accessed mental health support in the year leading up to their death. The bookmark plays a crucial role in suicide prevention ensuring that all students are aware of available help, eliminating common barriers and delays, and offering easy access through our online self-referral form.”
Elliott Holmes Memorial Fund Wellbeing trophy
The Elliott Holmes Memorial Trophy, introduced in January 2024, aims to encourage young individuals experiencing mental health challenges to seek support through self-referral and normalising conversations around mental health. This initiative, an inter-Gravesham schools competition, culminates in a final held at Ebbsfleet United.
In 2023, only 21% of self-referrals came from males, despite statistics indicating that they are at a far higher risk of suicide. This initiative, in conjunction with the Bookmark Programme, has proven successful in encouraging more males to seek help, providing an effective method of engagement for young people. Both schools in the inaugural final had tragically lost a student to suicide.
One year later, from October 2024 to March 2025, the percentage of male referrals has risen significantly to 43%, marking a substantial improvement. This increase has the potential to make a life-saving impact.