OUR TEAM

Ro (Trustee)

Ro is a qualified paediatrician who now works in mental health. She worked in a few children’s hospitals around Christmas time, and when she later worked in an adolescent mental health unit at Christmas time, she was surprised at how different it was to a children’s general hospital ward, in terms of the atmosphere, gifts, donations, visitors, and charities. She felt like society was either completely unaware that children spend Christmas in mental health hospitals as well as general hospitals, or that these children get forgotten about. Ro posted about this concern online, and was fortunately spurred on by some wonderful people to address the inequality. Matt, Lauren and others kept the momentum going, put a lot of work in, and Christmas For CAMHS was born.

Matt (Trustee)

Matt spent a couple of years in his mid-twenties working in primary schools and studying education, but most of his adult life has been in office admin and customer service. He has experienced depression himself and doesn’t think any child in a vulnerable mental state should feel alone, especially through the festive period. “When Ro first made me aware that young people in CAMHS units were being forgotten at Christmas, I had a strong feeling that if there was anything I could do to change this, I should do it”.

Lauren (Trustee)

Lauren has a background in community arts and youth work. She is passionate about working towards ending the stigma behind mental illness and opening up conversations using the creative arts. She currently works as a youth worker for a young persons mental health charity. “The reason I decided to join Christmas For CAMHS was because I think it’s so vital that all children and young people, no matter their situation, know that they are thought about and that they matter”.

Jess (Freelance Coordinator)

Jess is a Creative Project Manager who works with small charities and arts organisations to help them make the magic happen - everything from logistics and design to troubleshooting and event management (and most things in between!). Jess has volunteered for Christmas For CAMHS for the past couple of years and is delighted to be able to support the charity in a more official capacity this year. “I think the work Christmas For CAMHS does is absolutely essential - it has such a positive impact year on year. We must do all we can to keep it going.”