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About The Life Matters

The Life Matters is a UK charity dedicated to preventing self-harm and suicide in children and young people who are struggling with suicidal thoughts, self-harming behaviours, or emotional distress. We provide our unique A Child’s Voice programme and support as early intervention, giving  hope to those facing the darkest moments of their lives.

How it began 

Mary Brockwell founded The Life Matters Charity as a deeply personal response to the trauma and adversity she has faced throughout her life. Raised in a household marked by mental illness, substance misuse, gambling, and domestic violence, Mary became a young carer to her parents and six younger siblings, including one with autism who now lives with schizophrenia. She endured physical, emotional, and sexual abuse within her own home, and despite disclosing the abuse, those responsible were not removed or held accountable. From the age of 11, Mary worked in Brixton, London, and by 13 held a full-time job—money that was often taken by her parents but which allowed her to meet her own basic needs. Struggling with her mental health, she became involved in gangs and experienced both criminal and sexual exploitation. These early experiences were followed by a series of abusive adult relationships, including a long-term marriage that mirrored the patterns of her childhood. Mary’s world was shattered when her younger brother died by suicide at the age of 25, after being made homeless at just 13. This profound loss became a driving force behind her mission to create change.

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Through The Life Matters Charity, Mary channels her lived experience into meaningful action—supporting vulnerable children, families, and individuals facing hardship. She is also the author of a published book that empowers others to build resilience and navigate the complex challenges of life. Her story is not only one of survival, but of strength, growth, and hope. Her work inspires others to believe that no matter how difficult the circumstances, it is possible to overcome—and that every life truly matters.

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Link to the book 

In Loving Memory Of Penelope Christmas-Saksida 

In Loving Memory of Trustee Penelope

We are honoured to pay tribute to Penelope, one of the earliest and most devoted supporters of our founder’s vision. As a trustee, her unwavering dedication and deep compassion helped lay the foundation of our charity.

A passionate teacher, Penelope carried a clear and heartfelt vision for the children we set out to support—those who are so often unseen, unheard, and misunderstood.

From the very beginning, she worked closely with our founder and fellow trustees, helping to shape not only the structure of our organisation, but the heart of it. Her wisdom, empathy, and quiet strength ensured our work remained grounded in kindness, purpose, and hope.

Though we lost her in 2022, her legacy lives on in all we do. Her presence is felt in the strength of our foundation, the compassion of our approach, and the impact of every life we touch—past, present, and future.

Penelope will always be remembered not just as a trustee, but as a guiding light in our journey. Her belief in our mission continues to inspire us, and her spirit walks beside us as we carry her vision forward.

What We Do at The Life Matters

The Life Matters is a UK charity dedicated to preventing self-harm and suicide in children and young people who are struggling with suicidal thoughts, self-harming behaviours, or emotional distress. We provide our unique A Child’s Voice programme and support as early intervention, giving  hope to those facing the darkest moments of their lives.

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At The Life Matters, we are dedicated to preventing self-harm and suicide among children and young people by providing compassionate, timely, and specialist support.

 

Our vision is rooted in the belief that every child deserves to feel safe, heard, and supported — especially during times of emotional crisis. Our team includes a board of trustees experienced professionals with backgrounds in child protection, social work, and mental health, all committed to safeguarding vulnerable children. We understand the devastating impact of self-harm and suicide, not only on young people but also on families, schools, and communities.

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Despite the tireless efforts of those working in frontline services, there remain serious gaps in the system. A lack of accessible mental health services and poor collaboration between mental health and social care agencies often leaves children without the joined-up support they urgently need. This disconnect can delay early intervention and, in some cases, lead to tragic outcomes.

We believe that the principles set out in the Children Act 1989 and Children Act 2004 — particularly the duty to promote the welfare of the child and ensure effective multi-agency cooperation — must be more than legal requirements; they must be a lived reality.

 

The Life Matters exists to bridge these gaps, advocate for integrated care in their delivery of services to ensure that no child falls through the cracks. We work alongside families, schools, health professionals, and local authorities to deliver direct support, raise awareness, and push for systemic change.

 

Because every life matters — and every child deserves hope, support, and a future.

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​​​Our Core Services

A Child’s Voice – 10-Week self healing Programme

This is the UK’s first and only accredited, child-led programme designed specifically for children aged 8 to 18 who are self-harming or experiencing suicidal thoughts. Developed in partnership with children and connects existing clinical research to social work practices. The programme empowers participants to build resilience, emotional literacy, and safe coping strategies.

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Key Features:

  • Accredited 10-week programme workbook 

  • Focused on themes such as anxiety, imposter syndrome, emotional regulation, and boundaries etc.

  • "Measures outcomes through wellbeing scales and feedback loops, while also providing each child with immediate, accessible safeguarding information to help them understand their rights and how to seek help safely."

  • Delivered and available to families, local authorities, school, social services, and corporate providers working with vulnerable children

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Early Intervention & Crisis Prevention

Our early intervention model bridges critical gaps in local mental health services. Working in partnership with schools, local authorities, and social services, we offer:

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  • Early prevention, 1:1 emotional support for at-risk children

  • Safety planning and risk reduction strategies

  • Holistic family support and liaison with safeguarding professionals

  • Working in partnership with  school staff on managing disclosures and supporting wellbeing

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Professional Training & Capacity Building

“The A Child’s Voice CPD-accredited training equips professionals with the knowledge and tools to better understand the emotional challenges children and young people face, particularly around their feelings, safety, and identity.

 

The 10-week workbook programme is designed to build resilience, strengthen self-awareness, and empower young people to find and use their voice. Through trauma-informed care, it introduces effective coping mechanisms to help reduce and prevent self-harm and suicidal thoughts.

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National School intergration model 

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CPD Facilitator training

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Child 1-1 support via Charity wellbeing officers 

 

Participants gain the confidence to respond with empathy and professionalism, using evidence-based, best-practice approaches to support vulnerable children in a safe and meaningful way.”

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Our Aim

To transform the lives of children, young people, and families by delivering evidence-based services that promote emotional wellbeing and mental health across the entire family unit.

 

We are committed to ensuring that every child’s voice is heard—particularly during moments of crisis. Our approach goes beyond intervention to focus on prevention, connection, and empowerment.

 

By actively listening to children and providing them with the tools to manage their emotions, we aim to mitigate the long-term effects of unaddressed mental health challenges. This mission lies at the core of our purpose and guides all our efforts.

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How to Get Involved

As a registered charity, The Life Matters depends on public support to continue its life-saving work. You can support us by:

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  • Donating via JustGiving

  • Shopping online through Easy Fundraising

  • Volunteering or fundraising in your community

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Every donation helps us deliver more support, in more places, to the children who need it most.

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"Clear evidence from our ‘A Child’s Voice®’ workbook programme indicates that participating children often demonstrate a cessation of self-harming behaviours and a significant reduction in suicidal thoughts or attempts either during or by the completion of the programme.

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Together, we can make a difference — because every life matters.

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