Reconnecting with our legacy

We recently welcomed Nell Nicholson to Brandon Centre to chat to us about her grandmother’s (and our founder’s) legacy, Dr Faith Spicer.

Faith was an extraordinary woman whose vision continues to shape our work more than 57 years after she founded the London Youth Advisory Centre in 1969, the same organisation that would later become Brandon Centre after philanthropist Brandon Cadbury, who donated the Kentish Town building that remains our home today.

Nell’s stories about her grandmother reminded us of just how remarkable Faith was.

Faith Spicer

Born into a large family of 9 children, she was the youngest of her siblings and one of 8 daughters. At a time when opportunities for women were extremely limited, her mother passionately encouraged her daughters to pursue education and independence – values that clearly influenced Faith’s path and determination.

While Faith became a doctor and a psychiatrist, it was through her career as a medical director that she quickly recognised the need for a service that allowed young people to talk through the emotional uncertainty and personal challenges around contraception.

An innovator of her time, Faith believed that young people deserved a space where they could talk openly about their experiences and receive support without judgment, which led her to set up her own counselling and psychotherapy service.

But she didn’t stop there. Faith helped shape the emerging understanding of adolescent mental health with other organisations, such as the Brook Advisory Centre and the Anna Freud Centre.

Although Faith eventually retired from her formal role, she never stopped caring about Brandon Centre. She continued to take an active interest and kept an eye on what we were doing from time to time.

Faith outside her National Trust cottage in West Wycombe

While she is no longer with us, her influence is felt every day in our work. We use her values, compassion and innovation as our guide to support young people and their families today. And our connection with Faith helps us stay grounded in the principles that have shaped Brandon Centre from the very beginning.

Nell Nicholson’s (granddaughter of Faith) visit to Brandon Centre (by the mantlepiece at BC)

Nell, a teacher by background, has dedicated her own career to supporting young people through education and mental health services. Her work at Gloucester House reflects many of the same values that defined her grandmother’s life, so we’re extremely lucky to have Nell come by and share her family story.

It’s through Nell that we stay connected to Dr Faith Spicer and her incredible legacy. Her vision transformed the lives of countless young people, and it remains the foundation upon which Brandon Centre continues to grow today.