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Countdown to the sponsored walk

Writer's picture: M GarnerM Garner

Updated: Nov 30, 2024



We are beginning the countdown to our first fundraising event. With just under four weeks to go until our sponsored walk from London to Brighton to raise funds for Talk2Nish.com, founder Mandy and her two daughters Maia and Leila are training for the long haul from London Bridge to Brighton pier.

The walk will take four days and the money raised will go towards the next round of training for mental health peer mentors in secondary schools. This will build on the work already begun at Anglo-European School in Ingatestone, our pilot school.

Talk2Nish Peer Mentors aims to address the growing crisis in young people's mental health and involves training sixth-form students to be peer mentors who can listen to and help other students who might find it easier to talk to someone their own age about their problems. The mentors are supervised by the school.

Covid has foregrounded mental health, but mental health problems have been increasing for many years, particularly among young people, with the World Health Organization saying that depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Mind says that in 2018-19 24% of 17-year-olds reported having self-harmed in the previous year, and seven per cent reported having self-harmed with suicidal intent at some point in their lives. 16% reported high levels of psychological distress. Moreover, the number of A&E attendances by young people aged 18 or under with a recorded diagnosis of a psychiatric condition more than tripled between 2010 and 2018-19. Schools have often not had the resources to provide adequate services.

Mandy Garner, founder of Talk2Nish Peer Mentors and editor of the website workingmums.co.uk, says: “Anisha was a hugely empathetic person, who listened to and encouraged her friends and family, but also, like many young people, needed support herself. Talk2Nish Peer Mentors knows the extent of the challenges facing young people, but also knows that they are already on the frontline of dealing with it - as friends. We want to empower, recognise and support them to really make a difference.”

To donate to the sponsored walk go to - https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/talk2nishwalk. Mandy, Maia and Leila will be posting pictures of their progress and you can track them on the website.

*Photo credit: Brighton Pier at Dusk. Author hozinja,


Below: Mandy, Maia and Leila getting ready for the walk. Big thanks to Tracy Trickey for the t-shirt logos.


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