Children’s Self-Harm Intervention & Suicide Prevention Charity 1193469
A Child’s Voice®, co-designed with children and young people, empowers those who are self-harming or have attempted suicide by providing structured, safeguarding-led support when they need it most
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Aligned with NHSE Staying Safe From Suicide
Integrating "A Child’s Voice" with National School Mental Health Frameworks
Parents are welcome to visit our hub to find out about our services.
When: Fridays, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Where: Broadside, Leviathan Way, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4LL
Come along, ask questions, and learn how we can support your child.
Nominated for Pride of Medway
2026 Award
The Life Matters
The Life Matters is a registered charity, officially approved by the Charity Commission to deliver direct suicide prevention and mental health intervention services across Kent and the wider UK.
We provide structured, safeguarding-led early intervention for children and young people who are already self-harming, experiencing suicidal thoughts, or recovering from a suicide attempt.
We do not just raise awareness.
We provide a service.
We deliver intervention.
Our mission is clear: no child in crisis should be left without support.
We are proudly affiliated with the National Suicide Prevention Alliance (NSPA), reflecting our commitment to safeguarding, early intervention, and protecting children and young people from self-harm and suicide.
No Childhood Suicide Is Acceptable
Even one is one too many.
When risk is present, delay increases danger.
Children already self-harming cannot wait.
We act early, safely, and in partnership with schools, families, health professionals, and local authorities — strengthening safeguarding systems, not replacing them.
All services are delivered within professionally governed, safeguarding-led environments that meet statutory standards and ethical practice requirements.
A Child’s Voice
A Child’s Voice is our CPD-accredited 10-week early intervention programme focused specifically on self-harm and suicide prevention. To our knowledge is the only programme of ots kind in the UK
Co-designed with young people and grounded in:
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Bridging clinical research with social work practices
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Suicide risk awareness and structured safety planning
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Trauma-informed, strengths-based care
It is delivered directly to children already presenting with risk.
This is structured intervention — not signposting.
Proven Internal Outcomes
Our latest internally monitored outcomes demonstrate the effectiveness of timely, safeguarding-led intervention:
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95% reduction in self-harming behaviours among children on our programmes
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Zero suicide attempts among children we have supported
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60+ children directly supported through structured intervention
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180+ individuals supported across the wider community
These outcomes are based on internal programme monitoring and safeguarding oversight.
Behind every statistic is a child who is safer, heard, and supported.
Early intervention works.
Protection works.
Prevention works.
Safeguarding Is Our Foundation
The safety and wellbeing of children is our highest priority.
We operate within UK safeguarding legislation and local authority guidance, ensuring:
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CPD A Childs Voice Trained practitioners with safeguarding experience and qualifications
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Clear referral, consent, and information-sharing processes
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Ongoing dynamic risk monitoring
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Immediate escalation pathways where required
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Partnership with Designated Safeguarding Leads
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GDPR-compliant data handling and governance
We understand the responsibility of working with children in crisis — and we take it seriously.
Work With Us
Whether you are:
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A parent seeking urgent support
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A school referring a pupil
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A commissioner investing in early intervention
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A funder helping us expand access
Your involvement helps protect children at risk.
Refer a Child
Partner With Us
Support Our Work
Our Mission
We provide evidence-based early intervention and support for children and young people who are at risk of self-harm, are currently self-harming, or have made suicide attempts. Through A Child’s Voice, we protect, support, and empower children, ensuring they are heard, safe, and resilient. Our services respond to crisis, promote recovery, and equip children and families with the tools to prevent future harm.
Our Vision
We envision 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 has the opportunity to heal, thrive, and build resilience.
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"I want my voice to be heard"
We listened to you and with your help designed the A Childs Voice programme.
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"Driving Change Through the Power of a Child’s Voice"​
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1. Child-Led Development
The programme was created with the input of young people who shared their ideas, experiences, and feedback. For example, a 15-year-old contributor helped shape the workbook and explained how valuable a resource like this would have been during her own challenges. Children’s voices are central to everything we do.
2. Evidence-Informed and Multi-Agency Approach
The programme is grounded in clinical research and social work practice. It aligns with UK safeguarding guidance and safety planning standards. We work collaboratively with schools, social care, and mental health professionals to ensure each child receives coordinated and appropriate support.
3. Engaging and Reflective Activities
Sessions include psychology-based activities, interactive exercises, creative tasks, and guided self-reflection. These are designed to build emotional awareness, resilience, confidence, and coping skills in a safe and supportive environment.
4. Monitoring Progress
Age-appropriate well-being measures are used to track progress throughout the programme. This allows young people to see their own growth while also providing clear evidence of positive outcomes.
5. A Young Person’s Journey of Hope
One 12-year-old participant joined the programme after experiencing significant trauma and loss within her family. When she first began, she struggled with overwhelming emotions and trust. Through consistent support, structured activities, and a safe space to express herself, she gradually rebuilt her confidence and sense of hope.
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As part of her progress, she created a drawing to represent what “hope” means to her. With appropriate consent and safeguarding considerations, this artwork is shared as a symbol of resilience and recovery — not of the trauma she experienced, but of the strength she discovered.
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Community Impact 2026
Founded in 2021 in response to the growing crisis of children at risk of self-harm and suicide in Medway, The Life Matters was established to provide early, ethical, and prevention-focused intervention for vulnerable young people. Since launch, the charity has supported over 60 children through three structured cohorts, offering specialist guidance, safe therapeutic spaces, and timely support to those often struggling in silence.
At the heart of this work is our 10-week A Child’s Voice programme. Co-designed with young people from our second cohort, the programme embeds lived experience directly into its structure. Participants shaped the language, content, delivery style, and safeguarding framework, ensuring the programme is clinically informed, child-centred, trauma-aware, and responsive to real-world emotional distress.
A Child’s Voice bridges clinical research with frontline social work practice. It is believed to be the only UK programme integrating evidence-informed clinical insight, practical safeguarding, and youth voice in this way — creating a prevention model grounded in both research and real-world application.
The Life Matters has been recognised by BBC Radio Kent through Making A Difference in The Community and nominated for the Pride in Medway Awards 2026, highlighting the significance of this work locally.
Ethical internal evaluation is embedded within every cohort to monitor safety, effectiveness, and continuous improvement. Proven internal outcomes from the most recent cohort of 20 children demonstrate measurable, meaningful change:
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95% reduction in reported self-harm and suicidal thoughts
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Zero suicide attempts recorded during the programme
Across all three cohorts, no suicide attempts have occurred during active programme participation. To date, over 60 children and 180 family members have been supported, strengthening protective factors across the wider Medway community.
These outcomes reflect The Life Matters’ ongoing commitment to transparent evaluation, safeguarding excellence, and responsible reporting. By combining evidence-based practice, youth voice, and community delivery, we are not only supporting vulnerable children — we are helping prevent crisis, strengthen families, and create safer futures.
Every child’s life matters.
Testimonial
"In Just 10 Weeks, The Life Matters Transformed What Others Couldn't in Years
""From Silence to Strength — A 10-Week Journey of Healing and Hope"
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Young person, age 15, Victory Academy School, Chatham, 2025
“Before starting A Child’s Voice, I was self-harming and struggling with suicidal thoughts. After making a self-pledge in week 1, I stopped self-harming and began to feel supported. I know my thoughts might come back, but now I have safety planning tools and know how to get help. I haven’t had an FND episode in two weeks, which used to happen every day. I feel less stressed and more confident, and I’ve even been able to return to school. I really enjoyed the programme and will keep using my workbook for support.”
​Parent feedback:
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Mum
“My daughter has become more confident and learned how to express her feelings. The Life Matters has done more for her in 10 weeks than CAMHS has in four years.”
Dad: “She now understands mental health better and is a more confident young lady. This programme has been fantastic—I just wish more children had access to this kind of support. There simply isn’t enough out there.”​​​
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Testimonial
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​We now turn to Maggie Mae for her thoughts on the 'A Child’s Voice' programme — a reminder that children and young people are, indeed, the foremost experts in their own experiences.
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"My name is Maggie-Mae Darcy, and I started the A Childs Voice programme when I was seventeen, The Life Matters came to see me weekly at my school which is Chatham Grammar school.
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Every child / young person should have access to this type of programme as schools do not have time or resources to offer to every child. Before this programme I was struggling with no way to cope with such feelings, but the programme helped me to break these down and understand myself in new ways.
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Each week I had something to do, each day that helped me to broaden my understanding of my feelings and gain deeper knowledge of myself and why I think the way I do.
Before the programme I felt as though my voice didn’t matter, and that I was wrong in feeling the way that I did, but over the 10 weeks it has helped me to gain my confidence with the ability to share how I feel which helped me to validate my emotions, it also helped me to stop self-harming two weeks into the programme which was something I was struggling with.
I was lost before I started this programme at where I wanted to go in my future but after the first week of the programme, I realised my dream would be to help people. This will allow me to use my life experience to help others and that same week I started to apply for university for a placement studying mental health nursing".
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07 February 2025
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"I am so proud of my daughter achieving her certificate for A Childs Voice.
​​So, I would like to say that when you started to see the wellbeing officer, you were probably at the most depressed and lowest point in your life, I had ever seen, with you being taken by me to the hospital due to fear of self - harm. ​
The course has proved to be everything you needed and more to understand your emotions. ​You have shown a real interest and understanding in every part of the course even passing on your knowledge to me.
​I strongly believe this course has been invaluable and has taught you the tools in understanding your emotions going forward, to be able to cope with life’s challenges, I also believe it has given you clear direction on wanting to pursue a career in mental health to help other teens.
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​I’m so grateful to the charity and Mary for her kindness, understanding and professionalism throughout.
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I’m not sure where Maggie would be now if this course had not been available, thank you for everything Mary and team".
What Maggie Mae's mother had to share
The school shares its reflections on the ‘A Child’s Voice’ programme.
Chatham Grammar school's voice
"Maggie has been more focused and it is transparent that she has been able has build her confidence and resilience whilst studying this course. She has not relied on the pastoral team at all throughout the 10-week programme and certainly has a new focus on her future with a new mindset. ​Maggie- Mae would be at our office every day on some weeks seeking emotional support.
​Well done Maggie - Mae with your latest achievement, it is of my opinion that you will definitely be an amazing mental health nurse and we wish you all of the best for the future. A real credit to our school.
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Thank you to The Life Matters for supporting our student"
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​07 Feb 2025 See other Testimonials
Deliver A Child’s Voice in Your School or Organisation
We equip schools, statutory services, and frontline organisations with accredited training, licences, and resources to deliver A Child’s Voice safely, confidently, and effectively.
A Child’s Voice is a CPD-accredited 10-week programme for self-harm and suicide prevention, suitable for:
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Classroom PSHE lessons
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One-to-one support for children at risk
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Statutory and frontline services
The programme combines evidence-informed clinical research with practical social work approaches, ensuring every child receives trauma-informed, child-centred support.
Why Train With Us?
By training your staff to deliver A Child’s Voice, your organisation can:
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Strengthen early intervention pathways
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Enhance safeguarding responses
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Build emotional resilience and protective factors in children
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Provide structured, measurable support within your existing frameworks
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Demonstrate evidence-based outcomes for inspections and governance
Flexible Delivery Options
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Classroom Licences: Annual PSHE licences with all resources included
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One-to-One Support: Structured interventions for individual children, delivered safely by trained staff
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Professional Training: CPD-accredited 10-week programme training for teachers, safeguarding leads, and frontline professionals
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Expert Guidance: Ensures interventions complement statutory safeguarding responsibilities
The programme is trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate, and aligned with UK safeguarding standards, providing practitioners with practical tools for immediate use.
Build Capacity. Strengthen Practice. Improve Outcomes.
Training to deliver A Child’s Voice enables your organisation to provide structured, safeguarding-led suicide prevention to the children who need it most.
Move from crisis response to proactive early intervention — helping every child feel heard, safe, and resilient.
Please email office@thelifematters.co.uk - Book Training, Request a Licence, Learn 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.
Accreditations, memberships, alliances and supporters......
Member of the Kent & Medway Child & Young People Suicide Prevention Network
Member of the Kent & Medway Adult Suicide Prevention Network
Member of the Lambeth Child & Young People Suicide Prevention Network
Member of the Southwark Child & Young People Suicide Prevention Network
Member of the Scotland Child & Young People Suicide Prevention Network
Member of the Hertfordshire Child & Young People Suicide Prevention Network
Contact details
Tel: 01634 714088
​Mobile: 07760 464 294
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Email;
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