One-Eighty celebrates 10th Anniversary with Celebration and Fundraising Dinner

One-Eighty’s Patron, Dame Helen Ghosh, generously hosted One-Eighty’s 10th Anniversary Celebration and Fundraising Dinner on Friday 24th June 2022. The evening took place in the stunning setting of Balliol College, University of Oxford.

One-Eighty were delighted to be joined by many special guests and speakers. Highlights of the evening included live music from Meghan Nicholson, a presentation from young mental health and anti-bullying ambassadors from The Grange School, and a fundraising auction.

In her address, One-Eighty’s CEO and Co-Founder Susie Besant said:

“There is still so much more that needs to be done to support this and the next generation of young people. I believe One-Eighty has the model and passion to do this. We as a county, and as a nation, are still not doing enough to provide hope and a positive future for our young people.

“Since 2020, One-Eighty’s referrals to our core one-to-one interventions has increased by nearly 50%, and the complexity of need has risen.  We are now seeing children as young as five being sexually exploited through online platforms, and 12-year-olds self-harming on a daily basis, as it is their only means to feel in control of their lives.

“In July 2021, 1:6 children aged 5-16 years were identified as having a probable mental health problem, and an increase in referrals to GP services has been increasing by 10% each year with 40% being mental health related.

“We know that the earlier we reach a young person through preventative measures, the less likely they will go on to experience mental health issues in young adult life. That’s why One-Eighty is so crucial, and why we are not only celebrating our past 10 years and the impact we have had, but also trying to raise awareness and seek support of the amazing services we offer.”

If you would like to support One-Eighty’s work and our 10th anniversary appeal, you can make a donation at https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/one-eighty-10th-anniversary

One-Eighty would like to thank everyone who made the evening possible, in particular the individuals and companies who generously donated prizes for the auction and raffle.

Rachel Haydon