Skydiving for Brandon Centre
From being on the ground at the London Marathon to taking to the skies and jumping out of planes, it’s been a busy month for us!
On 24th April Maya, Grace and Lucca got up super early to travel to North London Skydiving Centre in Cambridgeshire to jump from an incredibly impressive 10,000 feet in order to raise money for Brandon Centre.
After some training, our brave team of skydivers took to the air in a small plane, before taking the exhilarating jump out into clear blue skies – and once the parachutes came out, it was a peaceful glide down to the ground. Watch the full video of their exciting experience below.
We’re extremely grateful to Maya, Grace and Lucca for skydiving on behalf of Brandon Centre and smashing their fundraising target with an incredible £3,500k raised!
If you also fancy taking on this ultimate thrill-seeking fundraiser, or are interested in another charity challenge, we’d love to hear from you. Simply reach out to Emma at emmasainsbury@brandoncentre.org.uk and together we can help provide young people with the mental health support that they need.
The London Marathon race recap
On a sunny Sunday 26th April, we joined thousands of spectators to cheer on our two incredible runners, Adam and Sam, at the London Marathon.
With our sign held high (wonderfully handmade by Rosie, our work experience intern), we followed the progress of Adam and Sam as they jogged around the city, ready at the sidelines to clap and shout out words of encouragement.
The day was buzzing with energy and spirits were high as we watched runners from all backgrounds and at all levels, racing for a myriad of good causes. It was also fantastic to see those who had dressed up, from teddy bears to chickens and rhinos.
This year’s marathon was particularly special, not just because it was our first time there but because it broke several world records, including raising an incredible £87.5 million for charities, the largest amount ever raised from a single event.
We caught up with both Adam and Sam a few days after the race to hear about their running experiences:
“Gosh, it was super hard. My injury started acting up about halfway in and I was still recovering from a cold I caught earlier that week, but I really dug deep to finish and I’m so glad I did. I feel extremely proud of myself for having completed the London Marathon.” – Adam
“The noise when you come over Tower Bridge is an experience that will become a core memory. There were times when I was convinced everyone was there for just me; the support was that incredible. It was spectacular to see people come together for something so positive, and to see my daughter and wife at mile 11 was just amazing. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to do it and to represent Brandon Centre.” – Sam
We’re so unbelievably proud of both of our racers who took on the challenge of running around the 26.2-mile route and fundraising over £2k each for Brandon Centre!
If you’re interested in taking part next year and running on behalf of us, please email Emma at emmasainsbury@brandoncentre.org.uk and help us to continue to support young people’s mental health and wellbeing.
Meet our marathon runners
We’re really excited to be a part of this year’s London Marathon. Not only is it our first time, but it’s also a first for our two incredible runners, Adam and Sam, who are taking on the challenge of the finish line and raising funds for a cause that truly matters.
While they’re limbering up for the big day, we thought we’d check in with them and see how it’s all going…
Hi both, we hope you’re feeling fresh and excited for the London Marathon.
But firstly, how has your training been going?
Sam: Training has been a bit of a rollercoaster… I’ve had some good weeks where I’ve felt strong and really on track, and then others have been a complete write-off, especially when juggling work, travel and life with a newborn at home! But overall, I’m in a good place. I’m focusing on staying consistent and keeping things moving in the right direction.
What’s been the hardest part of your training so far?
Sam: Trying to fit everything in! Early mornings, late evenings, and balancing training with family life have been a little difficult. Oh, and my calf has been acting up, which has made things challenging at times.
Adam: The hardest thing I’ve discovered during training is getting muscle fatigue after 25 or 30km, but I’ve found that running at a slow steady pace helps.
What about your favourite thing?
Sam: My favourite part has been the longer runs when everything just… clicks. There’s something really satisfying about finding a natural rhythm, where it feels like I can just keep going for ages.
And has there been anything that’s surprised you about training?
Adam: That even the tiniest details, like wearing the wrong pair of socks, make such a massive difference.
Sam: I think what’s surprised me the most is the mental side. I expected the physical challenge, but the emotional ups and downs have been bigger than I anticipated.
When it comes to running, are you a total novice or pretty much a pro?
Adam: I’m a total novice in terms of actually training for an event or running more than 12km. I usually run 2 to 3 times a week, just much shorter distances, so training for the marathon has been a totally different experience.
Sam: I wouldn’t call myself a complete novice, but I’m not a seasoned runner either. I’ve always tried to stay fit and enjoy activities like CrossFit, but this is my first time following a proper running plan.
This is also my first marathon, so the whole experience has been completely new – although I will say it’s been quite addictive so it probably won’t be my last!
Looking ahead to this marathon, we’re honoured that you’re running on behalf of Brandon Centre. Can we ask why you’ve chosen to support us?
Adam: I discovered Brandon Centre when I was training to be a Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist a few years ago. I had a very good experience and know first-hand (from attending the weekly clinical meetings) all the great work and care that goes into the support and help offered by Brandon Centre.
Sam: Brandon Centre’s commitment to providing mental health support for young people really stood out to me as it’s such an important cause, but I feel like it doesn’t receive the attention or funding it deserves.
On a personal level, good mental wellbeing is really valuable to me, so supporting a charity that’s making a real, tangible difference to young people’s lives felt like the right thing to do.
Thank you for sharing. How are you feeling now that you’re only a few weeks away from the big day?
Sam: A blend of both excitement and nerves. I know I’ve done the work, but there’s a bit of doubt when stepping into something new. I’m particularly worried about how my body will hold up over the full distance and those last miles feel like they could be really tough.
But having said that, I am genuinely looking forward to it as it’s been such a big focus in my life for a long time, so it’s exciting to be getting close! I think the atmosphere, running through London, seeing the crowds and being a part of something so iconic is going to be incredible.
And of course, crossing the finish line will be a pretty special moment.
Adam: I’m feeling pretty good. I’ve done my longest run and now tapering off before the race as advised, although getting into a routine right before the big day can be a bit tricky navigating… not eating too heavy, not running out of energy, not needing the loo mid race!
I’m just hoping that I’ll get into a bit of a groove and find my rhythm. I’m also really looking forward to the atmosphere on the day, which, I’m told, is a big help when you’re tired.
And finally, do you have any plans post-marathon?
Adam: I’ll definitely be hopping into a warm magnesium salt bath, and then maybe get a pizza.
Sam: I’ll be hugging my newborn baby as soon as I cross the finish line and enjoying a well-earned beer afterwards.
If you’d like to support Adam or Sam, please visit their JustGiving pages below and consider donating to Brandon Centre. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps us to deliver the highest quality of mental health and wellbeing support to young people. Thank you.
Brandon Centre at Google
Today, Brandon Centre joined Google’s Community Training Day to lead a conversation around looking after the wellbeing of staff in the voluntary sector.
Our team, Pavlos, Julia, Frederike and Emma, explored what wellbeing really means for voluntary sector staff supporting young people every day: feeling emotionally supported, psychologically safe, skilled, and able to seek help.
We acknowledged the reality: limited resources, rising demand, financial pressures and how personal wellbeing habits like rest, exercise and healthy boundaries are often the first to go.
We shared how organisations can actively build resilience:
- predictable supervision and structures
- leadership that models compassion
- trust, openness and no-blame learning cultures
Crucially, seeking support shouldn’t come with guilt or the belief that others are more important. Staff thrive when support is structured, proactive and built into organisational culture.
That’s why we created Ground Up. Offering external, expert support to help charities and organisations strengthen team wellbeing so young people get the very best from the people they rely on. If you are interested in Ground Up for your team get in touch at groundup@brandoncentre.org.uk
A huge thank you to Google for hosting and Islington and Camden Giving for bringing us together. When we invest in the wellbeing of our staff, everyone benefits.
#camden #islington #google #community #charity #staffsupport
World Mental Health Day – 10th October 2025
World Mental Health Day
Today, October 10th, marks #WorldMentalHealthDay, a time to reflect on mental health issues and improvement work all around the world, a time to break down barriers and have important conversations. But for us at Brandon Centre, mental health isn’t just a topic for today – it’s a commitment that we make every day. We believe that every young person deserves access to high-quality, accessible mental health support, and for over fifty years we’ve been working in the vibrant heart of #Camden and #Islington to support our community and meet the evolving needs of young people and their families.
The theme this year is ‘Access to Services – Mental Health in Catastrophes or Emergencies’ highlighting the importance of having safe mental health support during crises, whether they be global conflicts, pandemics or natural disasters, or more personal emergencies.
At Brandon Centre, we strive to be here for young people, developing flexible and accessible specialist services for young people to access the highest quality mental health and wellbeing support in a safe and welcoming environment, through services including:
- Counselling and psychotherapy
- Systemic integrative treatment
- Social prescribing
- Parenting programmes
- Arsenal in the Community
- School staff support
…and much more!
We believe that mental health support should be proactive, not reactive. It should be embedded in the communities where young people spend their time. It should be inclusive, culturally sensitive, and free from judgment. And most importantly, it should be shaped by young people themselves – because they are the experts in their own experiences.
We’re proud to be supporting the lives of the young people we serve, today and every other day of the year. So go on – celebrate World Mental Health Day alongside us and do something good too. Please donate to us at https://brandon-centre.org.uk/donations and your contribution will help us all year round.
Arsenal and Brandon Centre
Arsenal and Brandon Centre: A Winning Partnership
Arsenal Football Club has long been known not just for its excellence on the pitch, but also for its commitment to making a difference off it. That spirit of community was on full display last week during the Arsenal vs Olympiacos match, where Brandon Centre was proudly featured in the match day programme, highlighting the work being done through our partnership with Arsenal in the Community.
This partnership is rooted in our Brandon Connect service, which includes therapeutic outreach sessions at The Arsenal Hub for young men who might otherwise struggle to access and engage with mental health services. Together, we also deliver Arsenal Girls’ Kicks – football sessions with a sports psychologist helping girls to develop emotional awareness, communication skills and resilience as they grow as athletes.
To celebrate our collaboration and our feature in their match day programme, (check out the article below) Arsenal kindly shared tickets for Brandon Centre staff and young people to attend the match against Olympiacos – a great experience made better by Arsenal taking the win 2-0!
It was a great day to have such a close partnership with Arsenal in the Community – and the shared commitment to mental health and youth empowerment reflects the commitment we all have to supporting the local community of Islington and Camden.
By working together, Arsenal and Brandon Centre are helping to break down stigma, promote open conversations, and ensure that young people know they are not alone.
The partnership between our organisations is a powerful example of how sport and community organisations can come together to create meaningful change, both in raising awareness about mental health as we approach World Mental Health Day on October 10th, and in actively supporting Brandon Centre to make a difference in the local community. It stands as a reminder that football can be more than just a game – it can be a force for good.
Opening up our historic house
On Saturday the 13th of September, we opened our doors and garden to the public, as part of this year’s London’s Open House Festival.
The festival is an inspiring city-wide celebration of architecture, and a chance for Londoners and visitors alike to explore interesting buildings, homes and neighbourhoods. And we were delighted to take part again!
Welcoming in local residents, curious passers-by, former colleagues, and even one lovely visitor who travelled all the way from Birmingham, we hosted tours of our historic Kentish Town building.
While taking in our cosy therapy rooms, light-filled kitchen or wandering around our peaceful garden, we got chatting to our visitors.
Sharing the story of our legacy, from our remarkable founder Dr Faith Spicer who set up our mission way back in 1969 to the reason why we’re called Brandon Centre (after Brandon Cadbury, from the famous chocolate family) and what we do today, we managed to connect with others on a deeper level.
This feeling was reflected in the thoughtful comments left by our visitors. One person wrote:
“Thank you for helping so many young people and continuing to do such important work”
and another:
“I loved the open day and speaking to the therapists, they were so friendly and approachable” and simply, “lovely welcome, lovely house”.
These kind words mean the world to us and capture what makes Brandon Centre so special.
We’d like to give a huge thank you to Sam Weston, Lucca Hunt and Sue Sowerby for giving up their Saturday to help run the event. We’re also grateful to our talented gardener, Kitty Clarke who keeps our outdoor space looking beautiful and ecologically sustainable. Our wonderful garden was a highlight for many on the day!
It was a joy to be part of the Open House Festival and we’re already looking forward to the next one. Thank you to everyone who stopped by and helped make the day so special!
Garage Sundays, good vibes and a bit of fundraising
Music brings people together. And nowhere was this more evident than at a daytime rave – organised by Chloe K – on a Sunday 10th August, where dancers, DJs and donors got together to help fundraise for Brandon Centre.
Bringing high-energy sets to the Lock Inn in Camden, a lineup of local DJs, MCs and live performance artists played the best UK garage sounds. From old school to recent mixes, the atmosphere was electric and drew a buzzing crowd with good vibes, drinks and nonstop music.
Chloe K, Kentish Town’s own DJ, put the whole fundraising event on for us and also performed a curated garage set. Known for her unique blends of classic house music with garage rhythms, Chloe K always gets the dance floor jumping. And that Sunday was no exception!
The event was a huge success, we raised £200 with 100% of tickets proceeds going directly to our cause. But it was also a chance to bring people together, and show how powerful community and music can be when combined.
Voices Unlocked at Linklaters
On the 26th June, we visited the global law firm, Linklaters, to share our findings from our latest project, Voices Unlocked.
www.linklaters.com
But before we tell you about that, let’s rewind a little bit…
Earlier this year, we were funded by Linklaters to listen to the voices of young people from diverse backgrounds, so that we can better understand their experiences in accessing mental health services.
In order to do this, we set about three focus groups with ten local young ambassadors who had previously used our services. Coming from a range of diverse backgrounds, we spoke to young people who were Asian, Asian Chinese, Mixed White and Asian, Latin American, and Asian Bangladeshi.
We wanted to get their opinions on mental health as a whole, hear of their experiences accessing services and if they faced any barriers, and also what they thought about Brandon Centre.
We discovered that stigma and negative perceptions around mental health in these young people’s communities act as a major barrier to accessing mental health services.
Often dismissed by their families, mental health was described as a “weakness”, something to be “ashamed” of, and not spoken about “freely” amongst communities – making it particularly difficult for these young people to seek the help that they might need.
We’re already working on increasing the awareness and diversity in the psychological workforce to combat this, and we’re starting to see that opinions are shifting. However, we’ve recognised that there’s a need to continue this work as well as strengthen our partnerships with other organisations so that we can help as many diverse young people as we can.
Despite this, those we spoke to said that their experience at Brandon Centre was overwhelmingly positive. They praised our flexibility and our non-judgmental, friendly staff as well as appreciating the length of therapy we provide in comparison to other services.
But the most important thing to us was that these young people reported long-term, positive impacts on their mental health through accessing our services.
With this knowledge, we shared our findings to Linklaters at their offices, and alongside our young ambassadors we opened up the floor to questions – helping to guide others to our services as well as answering queries from the project. While we were there, Linklaters also kindly ran a careers panel for our young ambassadors, hearing the amazing stories and voices of, Yewande Akeju, Avani Agarwal and Lizzie Harker-Noor, to understand the different inspiring careers and pathways Linklaters.
It was a truly insightful experience, and we learnt and took away a lot. But if we had to pick one quote that highlights what we do best…
“I just always felt very listened to, very welcome. It felt like a very safe space for me.”
What an energising afternoon!
Tania, our Head of Parenting Programmes had a fantastic time connecting with members of the local community in Camden including passionate parents and dedicated staff from local services #familyhub.
The event on Saturday 2nd August was all about building relationships, sharing ideas, and promoting Brandon Centre’s FREE parent support groups that provides vital support for families.
The energy, collaboration, and community spirit were truly inspiring. Councillor Eddie Hanson, Mayor of Camden was there too, but we missed the photo opportunity. Next time!
