Empowering Young Minds: The Success of the Tree of Life in Schools Programme

For the past three years, the Tree of Life in Schools Programme in City and Hackney has been providing African, Caribbean, and mixed heritage young people with a unique form of culturally attuned mental health support.

Rooted in the Tree of Life model, originally developed in Zimbabwe, the programme helps young people to explore their roots and heritage, believe in their abilities, acknowledge their dreams and talk about difficult experiences in a safe environment. The importance of exploring identity is key as we mark Black History Month, which gives us all a chance to celebrate and understand the impact of black history and culture.

The programme has helped over 550 students across 15 secondary school settings (including the Pupil Referral Unit and some Alternative Provisions) explore their identity, build resilience, and navigate challenges in a safe and supportive environment.

The programme’s success lies in its collaborative partnership between local schools, NHS Mental Health Support Teams, and voluntary sector organisations. Partners included Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) East London NHS Foundation Trust, Hackney CVS, NHS North East London ICB, Wellbeing and Mental Health in Schools Service (WAMHS), Hackney Council and the City of London Corporation.

Using a peer-led approach, young adults from African, Caribbean, and mixed heritage backgrounds support as facilitators, making the sessions relatable and developing trust among students who may otherwise be hesitant to engage with traditional mental health services.

By integrating the programme within secondary schools, it has become part of the schools' broader approach to supporting students’ well-being. Each school hosts groups of 8-15 students, facilitated by Peer Leaders—young adults who share similar backgrounds and experiences with the students. By bridging the gap between mental health support and the lived experiences of African, Caribbean and mixed heritage young people, the Tree of Life has created a space where students feel understood and empowered.

One of the main strengths of the Tree of Life Programme is its culturally attuned approach. A remarkable 92% of students participating across the 3 years reported that having facilitators from similar backgrounds made the sessions more relatable and helped them feel more comfortable. African, Caribbean, and mixed heritage young people have historically felt alienated from mental health services that do not reflect their experiences.

As one 15-year-old participant noted: “The fact that I told them about [my story] it made me feel lighter on my shoulders.” Another student, aged 14, explained: “It is important that the facilitators are from similar backgrounds. You can kind of relate to their background, so it's more likely they’ve been through the same things as us.”

The impact of this culturally relevant model is further demonstrated by the 87% of students who said they felt safe sharing their thoughts and feelings during sessions. The model has not only given students tools to better understand themselves and their mental health but has also helped reduce the stigma around seeking further support.

The programme has also had a significant impact on the Peer Leaders. Many of the 17 young adults trained through the programme have gone on to full-time employment or further education. One Peer Leader reflected on this process, “It taught me a lot about myself and how to help others.”

The success of the programme has been widely recognised and has won prestigious awards, including the Health Service Journal (HSJ) Award for Innovation and Improvement in Reducing Healthcare Inequalities and the Children & Young People Now Award for Mental Health and Wellbeing. Only last week, on Monday 14 October, the project was awarded the Equalities Award at the NHS Parliamentary Awards that took place at Westminster.?These accolades reflect the programme’s contribution to addressing mental health inequalities using innovative and partnership-based approaches.

The project, which in the past has received funding from the Integrated Care Board and the Health Inequalities Funds is currently exploring new sustainable funding avenues for the programme going forward. The?success of the Tree of Life Programme, its strong partnerships, culturally attuned approach, and commitment to empowering young people serves as a model for what can be achieved when communities come together to address mental health inequalities.

Mariona Garcia Edo, CAMHS Alliance Programme Manager, City & Hackney CAMHS Alliance Transformation Programme

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