Countdown to our launch party

Talk2Nish Peer Mentors is officially launching in Theydon Bois on 21st June.

The charity trains young people in schools to be mental health peer mentors and to listen to their younger peers' worries about issues including bullying, friendship problems and exam pressures. It is named after Anisha Vidal-Garner, who was killed by a hit and run driver in February 2020. Anisha was a hugely empathetic person who always had time to listen to her friends when they needed support. 

Talk2Nish has been operating in Anisha's old school, Anglo-European School in Ingatestone, for the last two years and has become firmly embedded in the pastoral care programme there. The results from the pilot show the value that the training has had for the whole school - for teachers, for mentees and also for mentors. Teachers have told Talk2Nish how impactful it has been and the feedback from mentors and mentees echoes this. One mentor said it was the best thing they had ever done. 

Ruth Wootton, Deputy Head Teacher and Designated Safeguarding Lead at Anglo European School, Essex, said: "We are so fortunate to have the Talk2Nish programme in our school. Our student mentors have received high quality training which they can use to support younger students in school, and carry forward as skills for life. The mentors all talk positively about the skills they learned during the training and preparation days and we know that parents and students appreciate knowing that there is a group of young people who have been trained to listen and offer support and guidance. Our Talk2Nish mentors are a valuable part of the school's early help mental support framework."

Following the pilot, Talk2Nish Peer Mentors is looking to expand to other schools in Essex and is looking for schools to work with.

Mandy Garner, founder of Talk2Nish Peer Mentors, said: "Talk2Nish aims to bolster mentors' confidence, makes them feel they can make a difference and shows that empathy is something that has tremendous social value. 

"Young people are on the frontline of the mental health crisis as friends and relatives. I saw this with Anisha and her friends. We firmly believe they are part of the solution, that young people are more likely to share their everyday worries with people who are of a similar age, and research backs this up. We passionately believe that initiatives like ours are a vital part of addressing the mental health crisis in this country."

The launch party takes place from 7.30-10.30pm on 21st June in Theydon Bois Village Hall. There will be raffle prizes, a big quiz, snacks, cakes and a bar. The host is football commentator Darren Lewis, Associate Editor of the Mirror.  We are very grateful to the support we have received from local businesses, including Sourdough Pizza, Tikadi, North Weald Chemist, Gossip Nails and Cocoas Touch.

*Tickets are available here - https://www.eventbookings.com/b/event/talk2nish-peer-mentors-official-launch-party. If you can't come but want to donate, you can do so here - https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/talk2nishlaunch

**Picture credit: Our new cohort of peer mentors at Anglo European School.