Who we are
Anna Freud is a pioneering mental health charity transforming care for children and young people through science, collaboration and clinical innovation.
Shaping the future of young people’s mental health
Through our research, we shed light on why mental health problems develop, and design new approaches to prevention and intervention in partnership with children, young people, families and communities. We share our expertise by training clinicians, teachers and social care professionals, and by helping services and policymakers use evidence to improve the systems that shape young lives.
In a rapidly changing world, we champion fresh, practical approaches that foster trusted relationships to give every child the opportunity to thrive.
We’ve led the way in reimagining mental health care for more than 70 years. Join us today to help us build a future where every young person receives the right support at the right time.
Our vision
Our vision is a world where all children and young people can achieve their full potential.
A world in which they and their families get support that is designed with their input, available at the right time, which meets their needs, so that they can develop their emotional and mental health.
Our mission
Our mission is to close the gap in wellbeing and mental health by advancing, translating, delivering and sharing the best science and practice with everyone who impacts the lives of children and families. We will achieve this in three ways:
1. Closing gaps in science. We will work to understand and tackle the root causes of mental illness, confronting how and why mental health problems emerge in children and young people– and understanding their nature and impact. We will approach gaps in the science as a collaborative project, listening to lived experience and widening public participation in research to help achieve scientific breakthroughs.
2. Closing gaps in implementation. We will design, test and expand new approaches, interventions and models. We will improve the effectiveness of how help is experienced by children, families and communities. We will help to transform the systems around them – designing the architecture, making the connections and improving how all those involved work together to maximise their impact, so that access to help does not depend on social, ethnic or economic background or geographic location.
3. Closing gaps in access to knowledge. We will distil, translate and disseminate knowledge about what works. We will build tools, provide training and host peer support networks for parents, carers, professionals and policy makers – growing the confidence, skills and understanding of everyone who has an impact on the lives of children and families.
Our values
Compassion
We strive to empathise with the experiences and feelings of others, reflecting constantly and with humility to honour the trust we are given.
Inclusivity
Children, young people, and their families are at the heart of everything we do. We listen and learn from them, and from those who support them in education, social care and health, and across statutory, voluntary and community services.
Collaboration
We maximise our impact by working in partnership with others, learning from them and sharing our knowledge, expertise and experience.
Creativity
We are imaginative in how we build new understanding, strengthen relationships and develop our skills as the foundation of excellent practice
Equity
We strive for fairness and adjust our approach to help towards addressing the inequalities that exist in society today, recognising that not everyone starts in the same place.
Courage
We experiment and pioneer, accepting that we will sometimes get things wrong, and that is part of how we learn.
Integrity
We act with honesty and integrity, guided by evidence, while keeping in mind what science cannot tell us.
These values will underpin everything we do, our external and internal relationships, our programmes and organisational structure.
Find out more
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Training and events for mental health professionals
Our expert-led training builds skills and empowers mental health professionals to deliver timely and effective support for children, young people and their families.
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School and college support services
Our breadth of support and resources for schools and colleges helps education professionals to build an inclusive and holistic approach to mental health.
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Bespoke clinical support
We create practical, tailored support to strengthen local systems and enhance wellbeing services to improve mental health support for children, young people and their families.
