Minds Ahead is a social enterprise reshaping mental health in education.

Our Vision

We’re working towards a future in which all schools are inclusive communities where pupils and staff thrive because mental health is well supported, now and for generations to come.

Our Mission

We pursue our vision by designing and delivering mental health qualifications, training, and strategic consultancy. These empower school leaders and staff with the knowledge and tools to create environments where everyone belongs, feels understood and knows how to strengthen their mental health.

Read our School Mental Health Manifesto.

What we do

We offer a range of much-needed new qualifications for the sector:

The only Masters for Leadership of School Mental Health.
A Masters for teachers or pastoral staff who want to become School Mental Health Specialists (also available as a shorter Postgraduate Diploma).
A Foundation Programme in School Mental Health for colleagues working within educational settings seeking a recognised qualification in mental health.
A Peer Mentoring Programme for secondary school pupils.

We also provide bespoke training and support to schools, multi-academy trusts, local authorities and other organisations.

Minds Ahead’s pioneering approach to school mental health is about much more than providing reactive support. It is about schools embracing a vital public health role to support pupils to thrive and to prevent mental health issues from arising in the first place.

We believe a new mental health paradigm is required in education. Schools and colleges need to take a whole school approach that is holistic, strategic, preventive, proactive and reflective.

A holistic approach to school mental health: 5 elements

Read more about our innovative whole school approach to mental health here.

‘Children like it best when there is a Whole School Approach to mental health and wellbeing - where there is a culture of promoting and protecting everyone.

Children said that they want their school to be a place of support, where talking about mental health is normalised, and where the stigma around mental health is reduced. As one boy said: We shouldn’t just have assemblies on mental health because it’s Mental Health Awareness Week. We should have them in general and all year round’
Children’s Commissioner (2022)

Why we stand out

Minds Ahead stand out in the sector:

We’re inventive

We were founded before school mental health hit the headlines.
We focus on system change and building capacity, not quick fixes.
We developed the School Mental Health Award – the first official process for school leaders to evaluate and improve their mental health work and be recognised for their achievements.

We’re knowledgeable

Our evidence-based programmes build deep knowledge and skills and are delivered by sector-leading experts.
We created the UK’s first Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools in partnership with the Carnegie School of Education at Leeds Beckett University.
As co-founders of the Centre of Excellence, we’re the DfE’s chosen Quality Assurer of all school mental health training nationally.

We’re collaborative

Our programmes are practical; participants apply everything they are learning directly in their context.
Programme participants can support their schools with mental health screening/assessment through our partnership with STEER.

Awards and recognitions

We’ve won many awards in recognition of our pioneering work on school mental health, including the Social Enterprise Top 25 Trailblazing Newcomer Award and the Social Enterprise UK: One to Watch Award.

We were invited to join the PwC Social Entrepreneurs Club and we are on the Social Enterprise UK Roll of Honour.