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As we come to the end of 2025, we wanted to thank you for your generous support of the Charlie Watkins Foundation.
2025 has been another active year for us, and as it draws to a close we want to update you on some of our activities over the past 12 months.
National Project
Our support of Student Minds contributed to the development of online directories, collating the mental health support available to universities across the UK. The response to our online guides, both for students transitioning into the next stage of their lives, and for parents concerned about how to address issues with their children, remains massively helpful.
What we are doing locally
Our relationship continues with Essex & Suffolk Youth Enquiry Service “YES”, based in Colchester. On a recent visit, their CEO, Maeve Borges, explained that they had over 100 young people waiting for counselling and had closed their waiting list. Thankfully, this has reopened, but demand remains high, with hundreds of students seeking assistance.
It is good to know that young people are wanting to talk about their mental health and Charlie’s Cabin, in the grounds of YES, provides a safe and comfortable space where they can talk. However, the number of young people looking for help is concerning, so we are committed to providing as many opportunities as possible for counselling through YES and their vital work in local schools.
“The impact made by the YES service [funded by the Charlie Watkins Foundation] has been invaluable. It has such a positive impact on our students mental health and wellbeing. We are able to refer students’ and they receive beneficial, impactful 1-2-1 support with little waiting time, rather than having to refer to external agencies and be offered group support.”
Further information on the impact of this scheme can be found here: https://cwfoundation.co.uk/2025/11/27/yes-case-study-changing-young-lives-through-in-school-counselling/
Bereavement support
This year, we continued our support of an initiative helping children and young people who are struggling following a bereavement.
HBBS Counselling, based in Brentwood, was founded in 1989 and provides professional and confidential counselling to local adults, young people and children. We initially gave HBBS a grant of £8,000 in 2024 specifically for their work with young people and children, and following the positive feedback we received, we committed to give them a further £12,000 over two years to help them continue running this important service.
Our funding will help them provide over 250 sessions of specialist face to face counselling to children, as well as the teachers and families who support the young person in their care. Feedback has shown the sessions enabled children to talk about and understand their feelings and difficult emotions, and learn coping mechanisms to help them move forward.
Charlie’s Champions
Our Charlie’s Champions really are amazing and we couldn’t continue the support we give without their incredible efforts.
Below are just a few of the challenges and events they’ve undertaken this year:
- John and Josh Neil raised significant funds by completing another marathon cycle ride up and down the hills of Italy
- Harry and three friends of Charlie’s – Joe, Freddie and Sam – scrambled up and down mountains only to be defeated by the slow traffic on motorways in their attempt to complete the three peaks in 24 hours
- Pen Insurance have held numerous events for CWF during the year and continue to be great supporters
- Golfers took on the challenge of Westerham Golf Course with Mulligans being purchased and there was strong competition for the coveted title of the Champion team of the year.
and, of course, our grateful thanks to everyone who continue to make regular donations.
Upcoming events
We are busy planning events for 2026 that you can support or get involved in, including our popular Walk and Talk event.
We are also pleased to announce that following the incredible success of our last Charity Ball, where we welcomed 350 guests and raised over £100,000 together, we will be hosting another one next year.
Details about all of our upcoming events will be available on our website. Please make sure that you, and as many friends as possible, are signed up to receive our newsletter so you don’t miss the dates! If you’ve yet to subscribe, do so here!
