Reducing Self-Harm. Restoring Hope. Saving Lives.
Children's Self-Harm & Suicide Prevention Intervention
Through the licensed A Child’s Voice® Programme, we’ve achieved a 95% reduction in self-harm and suicidal thoughts—transforming lives through early, life-changing intervention for children, families, and schools.
Recognised by BBC Radio Kent | Pride in Medway Awards Finalist
Featured by the Kent Safeguarding Children Multi-Agency Partnership (KSCMP)
Regististration 1193469
Reducing Self-Harm. Restoring Hope. Saving Lives.
Early Intervention Saves Lives
We deliver structured, licensed programmes for schools and professionals, designed to reduce risk and strengthen safeguarding. By recognising distress early and responding quickly, we give children and young people the best chance of recovery. Our work is shaped by lived experience, ensuring that families receive the support they need before it's too late.
Our Founder’s Story
Our founder, Mary, tragically lost her brother Lee to suicide at just 25. This loss drives our mission to help families recognise the signs of distress early and provide the right support before tragedy strikes.
The Problem
Many children are:
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Struggling in silence
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Missing early intervention
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Reaching crisis before support is available
The rising rates of self-harm and suicide in children highlight the urgent need for early intervention and awareness. We exist to change that.
Our Licensed Programme: A Child’s Voice®
A Child’s Voice® is a licensed, 10-week, one-on-one early intervention programme designed to support children at risk of self-harm or suicide. Delivered in school and professional settings, it is the only programme of its kind in the UK, specifically focusing on suicide prevention. Our programme integrates:
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Clinical research and social work practices
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Suicide risk awareness & structured safety planning
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Mental health education empowering children to use their voice
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Raising awareness through Children’s Youth Ambassadors who promote mental health and safety planning in schools
Our Licensed Programme Model: Co-Designed with Children & Young People
A Child’s Voice® is a licensed, 10-week, one-on-one early intervention programme model designed to support children at risk of self-harm or suicide. Delivered in school and professional settings, it is unique and, to our knowledge, the only programme of its kind in the UK.
The licensed programme model we use was co-designed with children and young people to ensure it is both effective and empowering. Built on the following core principles:
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Trauma-informed, strengths-based care
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Accessible for children with ADHD and autism
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Integrated with National School Mental Health Frameworks
Proven Impact
Proven Impact (2025)
So far in 2025, the licensed programme has achieved:
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95% reduction in self-harm and suicidal thoughts
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0 suicide attempts during programme delivery
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60 children directly supported
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180+ family members reached
The programme is evaluated using CORC-aligned outcome measures, tracking improvements in well-being, confidence, and help-seeking behaviour.
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Recognition & Partnerships
Recognition & Partnerships
Our founder, the author of the licensed programme, has been recognised locally for her exceptional work in mental health and suicide prevention:
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BBC Radio Kent: Making a Difference in the Community
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Pride in Medway Awards 2026: Nominee
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Kent Safeguarding Children’s Multi-Agency Partnership (KSCMP): Advertised for innovative work in safeguarding children
Her dedication to creating and licensing the programme has made a significant impact within the local community, earning recognition from local media, award bodies, and key safeguarding partnerships.
Holding space for a child’s voice
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Train with us
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Fund a programme Support delivery of A Childs Voice® in Schools
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Sponsor a child From £10, help a child access early intervention support
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Partner with us Work with us to scale Urgent Intervention & prevention nationally
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Become a child ambassador for your school
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Become a school partner
Thanks to MHS Homes
Who have partnered with us to support our Hub for You initiative. They are dedicated to helping the local community and strengthening family wellbeing.
Parents are warmly invited to visit our hub to learn more about our services.
When: Fridays, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Where: Broadside, Leviathan Way, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4LL
Come along, ask questions, and find out how we can support your child and family.
Our mission is to empower children through A Child’s Voice®—a programme co-designed by children—by providing early intervention and support for those at risk of self-harm or suicidal thoughts, ensuring every child feels heard, safe, and supported while building resilience and pathways to recovery.
Our Vision We are working towards a UK where every child has access to A Child’s Voice® programmes — where no child suffers in silence, no family faces crisis alone, and every young person is supported to heal, thrive, and build lasting resilience.
We are already expanding our impact beyond Kent, including reaching Edinburgh, as we grow nationally to ensure no child is left without support.
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Driving Change Through the Power of a Child’s Voice
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A selection of testimonials is shown below, with more available on our Testimonials page:
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Programme impact:
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“In just 10 weeks, the A Child’s Voice® programme achieved what others couldn’t in years.”
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From silence to strength — a journey of healing and hope.
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Young person, age 15 (Victory Academy School, Chatham):
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“I was self-harming and struggling with suicidal thoughts.”
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“After week 1, I made a self-pledge and stopped self-harming.”
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“I now have safety tools, feel more confident, and I’ve returned to school.”
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Parent testimonial:
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“My daughter is more confident and able to express her feelings.”
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“In 10 weeks, this did more than CAMHS has in four years.”
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School testimonial – Chatham Grammar School:
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“We have observed a significant improvement in our students’ focus, confidence, and resilience throughout this programme.”
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“Students have demonstrated increased independence and a more positive outlook towards their future.”
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“We extend our sincere thanks to The Life Matters for their valued support.”
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Proudly supported by Kent County Council & Featured in
A Child’s Voice®
A Whole-School PSHE Programme
£500.00 Annual Licence
Empowering pupils to speak, be heard, and stay safe
10-Week Lesson Plan
A simple, structured programme to reduce the risk of self-harm and strengthen safeguarding.
Student learning content
Easy delivery for staff
Designed to fit within the existing PSHE curriculum
Practical, ready-to-deliver lessons that support emotional wellbeing and early intervention.
Why Schools Choose A Child’s Voice®
A safeguarding-led PSHE programme that equips pupils with the confidence, language, and tools to recognise concerns, express feelings, and seek help safely.
It supports early identification, strengthens pupil voice, and helps create a culture where children feel heard, supported, and protected. Developed through lived experience and shaped by young ambassadors, pupil voice is embedded throughout.
What Makes This Programme Different
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Whole-school approach
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Pupil voice at the centre
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Focus on early intervention
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Safeguarding aligned
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Practical and easy to implement
Impact for Your School
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Pupils feel safer and more confident to speak up
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Staff are better equipped to respond
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Stronger safeguarding and wellbeing provision
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Supports Ofsted expectations
A Programme You Can Trust
Recognised by BBC Radio Kent, a Pride in Medway Awards finalist, and featured by the Kent Safeguarding Children Multi-Agency Partnership.
A CPD-accredited, 10-week PSHE programme grounded in clinical research and social work practice, providing trauma-informed, early intervention support for self-harm and suicide prevention.
Stay up to date with the Kent Safeguarding Children Multi-Agency Partnership.
Click here for more details on the PSHE school licence.
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A Child’s Voice®- Targeted Intervention
For students requiring additional support, we offer a structured 10-week programme 1-1 intervention designed to help reduce self-harm risk and give children and young people a safe, guided way to express their voice
Used By:
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Safegarding teams
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Pastaroal leads
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referral-based support
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Delivered alongside existing safegarding processes.
Schools and professionals are increasinly supporting students experiencing emtional distress and self-harm risk.
Our Programme is designed to:
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Support early identification
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Provide structured intervention
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Reduce pressure on staff
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Strengthen safeguarding responses
All of our resources are developed through A Child’s Voice®, a programme designed by children, and shaped through our continued work with young people and child ambassadors. Their lived experiences and insights ensure that children’s voices remain central to everything we create.
Zuzanna is an Ambassador who supports our charity by promoting children’s education and awareness. She uses our resources to support students at Victory Academy School in her role as a mentor, using her skills to guide and support young people.
Zuzanna, 17, lives in Kent England and is a student in Kent and studies at The Victory Academy. She is studying criminology and sociology, with a strong interest in understanding the social factors that impact young people’s mental health. As a Youth Mental Health Awareness Ambassador at Life Matters, she supports the development and sharing of youth-focused information and resources.
Alongside her role at school as a peer mentor, she is passionate about raising awareness, reducing stigma, and helping young people access trusted information on self-harm and mental wellbeing. Her work focuses on education and awareness, both within her school community and through digital content.
Katie helps develop our charity’s safeguarding resources, ensuring that children across the UK have access to immediate support. She is an A Child’s Voice® Youth Mental Health Awareness Ambassador for safeguarding, working to help keep children safe.
Katie, 18, lives in Oxfordshire, England, and has also studied in the United States, giving her a broad and diverse perspective on youth development and wellbeing.
She is passionate about supporting children and young people to keep themselves safe and to better understand safeguarding in relation to their mental wellbeing. Her work is driven by a strong commitment to empowering young people with the knowledge and confidence they need to recognise risks, seek support, and make informed decisions about their safety.
Through her advocacy, Katie aims to promote awareness, encourage open conversations, and ensure that young people have access to trusted guidance and resources to support their mental health.
Are you interested in becoming an Ambassador for your school?
please email us at office@thelifematters.co.uk.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Right now, Lucy is doing something truly meaningful—she’s raising funds for our charity, and we would greatly appreciate your support.
If you’re able to help, whether by making a donation, sharing the fundraiser, or simply spreading the word, it would make a real and lasting difference. Every contribution goes directly toward supporting the work we do, and Lucy’s efforts play a vital role in making that possible.
Please take a moment to support her if you can. Your generosity, encouragement, and kindness help keep our mission moving forward.
Thank you for being part of something that matters 💛
Visit Lucy’s fundraising page to learn more and donate.
Together, we can achieve more.
The Life Matters relies on donations to provide our life-saving services.
We are grateful for every personal contribution and for the generous support of local companies and organisations whose sponsorship helps us deliver A Child’s Voice ® and other vital programmes to children and young people at risk.
Suicide Prevention Networks for Children and Young People (CYP) across the UK include:
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Kent & Medway (CYP)
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Lambeth (CYP)
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Southwark (CYP)
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Scotland (CYP)
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Hertfordshire (CYP)
Contact us
Tel: 01634 714088
Mobile: 07760 464 294
Email;