Meet our Young Champions

When did you start your Championing at Anna Freud?  2019

Why did you join as a Young Champion at Anna Freud? 

I wanted to use my experiences to help others and be involved in projects where I could make a difference.

What do you hope to achieve in your time as a Champion?

I hope to be able to help other young people who are themselves or who know someone who is struggling with their mental health. I would also like to become more confident in my time as a champion and have the opportunity to raise awareness and educate others about mental health.

What are your future ambitions?

I want to be happy and confident in myself and have a job that I love.

Can you give us a random fact about you?

I love maths!

What advice would you give a young person considering being an Champion?

Do it!

When did you start your Championing at Anna Freud?

I started as a champion at Anna Freud this year on 12 October.

Why did you join as a Young Champion at Anna Freud?

I joined as a Young Champion because I want to do as much as I can to prevent other people from going through the things I have been through and still have to experience.

What are you most looking forward to doing in your time as a Champion?

I am most looking forward to training as a champion educator and to become part of the young persons’ trauma council, if I get in.

What do you hope to achieve in your time as a Champion?

I hope to feel like I've put my maximum effort into helping Anna Freud to improve so they can do better work and help more kids.

What has been the one key thing you have learnt, being a Young Champion?

I have learnt that you can never judge a book by its cover. Don't assume what is going on in someone's life.

What are your future ambitions?

In the future I hope to be happy. I want to find things that truly make me happy.

Can you give a random fact about you?

A random fact about me is that when I'm older I would like to be a forensic scientist specialising in blood splatters and DNA.

What advice would you give a young person considering being a Champion?

My advice would be to have a go because you could learn new things and you could potentially help Anna Freud save someone's life. 

Joined: March 2019

Why did you join as a Young Champion at Anna Freud? 

I joined as a Young Champion after seeing the amazing work a friend that was already a Young Champion was doing, and as a young person with lived experience of mental health difficulties, I thought it would be a really great way of using a negative experience to have a positive influence. I’m also hugely passionate about breaking down the stigma surrounding mental illness, and I adore volunteering (which has been researched and proven to be a great form of self-care), so becoming a Young Champion seemed a perfect way of unifying the two!

What has been the most your favourite activity you have participated in?

My favourite activity was actually my first ever activity that I did in May, when I innocently signed up to partake in a sailing simulator at the Cutty Sark in Greenwich for the launch of The King’s Cup - Anna Freud was one of the eight charities involved in The King’s Cup, which was a boat regatta race held to raise awareness and funds for the patronages of Their Royal Highnesses – and ended up meeting the Duchess of Cambridge! What an unexpected but brilliant way to begin my time at Anna Freud.

What do you hope to achieve in your time as a Champion?

I hope to step out of my comfort zone and develop new skills, as well as build upon existing ones, by getting involved in a range of fun, challenging and inspiring tasks and activities! And of course, make a difference to the perception and treatment of youth mental health and wellbeing, by raising awareness of Anna Freud and the amazing work that we do.

What would you say has been one of the key things you have learnt, being a Young Champion?

I’ve learnt that it’s really beneficial to try something new, even if you’re a bit apprehensive about it. It may just turn out to be the best decision of your life! I’ve also been reminded of how wonderful volunteering can make you feel, so when I’m feeling a bit tired and grumpy, I now try to positively combat that by doing a Young Champion related-task, such as attending a Youth Panel or taking part in #selfcaresummer!

What are your future ambitions?

I want to do a degree in Graphic Design so that I can become a medical illustrator/graphic designer, and/or a clinical photographer. I also aspire to be the proud mother of at least five cats one day.

Can you give us a random fact about you?

I LOVE trains, in particular the London Underground, so I’m trying to enter and exit all 270 Underground stations, as well as all the Overground, DLR, and TfL Rail stations and Tram stops in the space of a year! I also have hypermobility syndrome, so I can do some pretty cool party tricks with most of my joints. How about making my thumb touch my wrist, anyone?

What advice would you give a young person considering being a Young Champion?

If you know that you can fit in the commitment of being a Young Champion alongside your studies, work commitments, social life and any other responsibilities comfortably without potentially burning yourself out, then just go ahead and jump in. We’re a friendly bunch, and you’ll be continuously supported and encouraged, so you have nothing to lose!

When did you start your Championing at Anna Freud?

I started as a young champion in November 2020.

Why did you join as a Young Champion at Anna Freud?

I joined as a Young Champion because I want to use my experiences to improve mental wellbeing in schools.

What are you most looking forward to doing as a Champion?

I am most looking forward to helping others in schools and working with professionals to improve resources.

Random fact about myself:

My favourite colour is pastel pink.

What do you hope to achieve in your time as a Champion?

I hope that I will be able to openly share my story and use it to help others with acceptance.

What are your future ambitions?

My future ambition is to go to a university with oceanography and work with animals of the sea.