£1m Bukhman Philanthropies donation to help Anna Freud build more mentally healthy schools
New partnership will help improve the wellbeing of children and young people across the UK.
£1m to strengthen school mental health support
Anna Freud is set to receive £1m over the next four years from Bukhman Philanthropies, a philanthropic foundation, to help build the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in schools across the UK.
How the donation will be used
The generous donation will support several projects. This includes:
A new programme to help students transition from primary to secondary school. This milestone, with its major adjustments, new routines and social pressures, can be particularly challenging. Training and resources will empower staff, parents and carers to intervene early and help young people navigate this period.
Developing training on responding to self-harm, which will help school staff to develop preventative measures and more effectively respond to disclosures.
Backbone funding so Anna Freud can be agile and quickly respond to the needs of school and college communities across the country.
About Bukhman Philanthropies
Bukhman Philanthropies was founded by Dmitri and Daria Bukhman and reflects their diverse philanthropic aspirations, including a commitment to improving the mental health and wellbeing of children and young adults.
The announcement comes after Daria visited Anna Freud’s office in Islington, London last week. She met with some of Anna Freud’s leading experts in schools and mental health, and heard about some of the resources, training and clinical support the charity provides to empower school staff to meet the mental health and wellbeing needs of every student. Each year, the team supports over 40,000 education professionals working with young people at every key stage.
Daria Bukhman, Co-Founder and Chair of Bukhman Philanthropies, said:
"Mental health challenges often begin in childhood, and early support can change the course of a young person’s life. Through this partnership with Anna Freud, we hope to strengthen the capacity of schools to nurture resilience, provide timely support, and create a culture where every child feels safe and valued."
Jaime Smith MBE, Director of Schools at Anna Freud, said:
“We’re incredibly grateful to Bukhman Philanthropies for this transformative donation. At Anna Freud, we understand that schools are not just places for academic learning, but are important environments for building good mental health and wellbeing in children and young people. They’re also often the place where the first signs of mental ill health are noticed and the first place that many parents and carers turn to for help.
“We know that school staff are under immense pressure and often lack the support they need to respond effectively to mental health needs. This funding will help us to work with teachers and school leaders to provide evidence-based training and resources to build staff confidence and skills to support students' wellbeing.”
Additional support
Learn about Anna Freud's mental health support for schools and colleges, including resources, training and clinical support.