The Villager is committed to helping change young people's lives in Gravesham, supporting the Elliott Holmes Memorial Fund's HEALTHY MINDS, BRIGHTER FUTURES campaign, throughout 2025.

Your support can make a profound difference in the life of a young person in crisis, providing them with the help they need when they need it most.

The Challenge

Our young people are facing a mental health crisis of unprecedented proportions. In Gravesham alone, the number of young people admitted to A&E at Darent Valley Hospital for deliberate self-harm, mental illness, or overdosing has surged from 73 in 2017 to 165 in 2024—a staggering 126% increase. We are truly in the midst of a mental health emergency.

EHMF's Response

Since April 2022, the Elliott Holmes Memorial Fund has been a lifeline for over 400 young people seeking support. A self-referral model for 13-18 year olds living in Gravesham or attending a Gravesham school, providing timely support and no barriers, identifying some of the most vulnerable young people in Gravesham - there is simply no comparable service in the UK. A heart breaking 83% of the young people who self-refer have been unable to access the support they need elsewhere.

Be part of the solution

They need your help to continue providing this essential service. Please donate today and help them continue supporting the young people in Gravesham. Together, we can make a difference.

Thank you.