Early intervention that saves young lives
Every child deserves to feel safe, heard and supported. The Life Matters provides early, one‑to‑one help for children who are struggling with self‑harm, suicidal thoughts or overwhelming emotions. Our A Child’s Voice® programme gives young people the tools to stay safe, build confidence and rediscover hope.
How we help
Children & young people
We offer a structured, 10‑week programme that helps children understand their feelings, reduce self‑harm and develop practical strategies to stay safe.
Schools
We work alongside DSLs, SENCOs and pastoral teams to provide an evidence‑based early‑intervention pathway for pupils who need focused support.
Parents & carers
We help families understand what their child is experiencing and how to stay connected through difficult moments.
Testimonials
Tia - age 15
Tia’s Strong, Resilient Voice
Before I did the programme I was upset all of the time, was self-harming and struggling at school. I stopped self-harming since week 2.
I think this course is interesting and informative teaching me how my brain and my thoughts work. Since doing the course I have learnt that there are loads of different mental health disorders and that everybody experiences anxiety and stuff like that and it’s normal to feel low sometimes.
The programme has taught me different ways on how to manage my emotions and feelings in certain situations. Helping me to understand stuff by writing it out calms me down.
I’m no longer self-harming as I am stronger. I am proud of myself and feeling stronger.
I would recommend this programme as I think it has been beneficial to me and would be to many other young life's.
There is a safety planning section in my workbook that is helpful and educates me on how to reach out in crisis.
Tia's positive affirmations – I am proud of my big heart and how I care a lot for others and how they feel. I know that I am also deserving of love and respect.
Tia's' Mum's Voice
Tia is now nearing the end of the course and has not self-harmed since week 2.
We hope the course has made her view things differently, to ask for help and given her more confidence to know that she can cope with situations in better ways.
She seems stronger than before in dealing with issues.
Thanks to The Life Matters.
Tia's School's Voice'
The 10-week resilience programme run by The Life Matters has had a significant positive impact on Tia's confidence and independence.
Staff have noticed her resilience and Tia is less reliant on support from staff. Her strength and resilience is evident in her role as a buddy for a new student, helping them to integrate into the school and community. Staff notice Tia's increased self-reliance and emotional strength.
Her class teachers say that she works very well in class and is a pleasure to teach.
Maggie Mae
Maggie Mae
My name is Maggie-Mae Darcy, and I started the A Child’s Voice programme when I was seventeen. The Life Matters came to see me weekly at my school, which is Chatham Grammar School.
Every child or young person should have access to this type of programme, as schools do not have the time or resources to offer this level of support to everyone. Before this programme I was struggling with no way to cope with my feelings, but the programme helped me break these down and understand myself in new ways.
Each week I had something to do, something each day that helped me 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 for feeling the way I did. Over the 10 weeks it helped me gain confidence and the ability to share how I feel, which helped me validate my emotions. It also helped me stop self-harming two weeks into the programme, which was something I had been struggling with.
I was lost before I started this programme and unsure about my future, but after the first week I realised my dream would be to help people. This would allow me to use my life experience to support others, and that same week I started applying for university for a placement studying mental health nursing.
Maggie Mae's Mum's Voice
I am so proud of my daughter achieving her certificate for A Child’s Voice.
When you started to see the wellbeing officer, you were probably at the most depressed and lowest point in your life that I had ever seen, with me taking you to the hospital out of fear of self-harm.
The course has proved to be everything you needed and more to understand your emotions. You have shown real interest and understanding in every part of the programme, even passing on your knowledge to me.
I strongly believe this course has been invaluable and has taught you the tools to understand your emotions going forward, helping you cope with life’s challenges. I also believe it has given you clear direction in wanting to pursue a career in mental health to help other teens.
I’m so grateful to the charity and to Mary for her kindness, understanding, and professionalism throughout.
I’m not sure where Maggie would be now if this course had not been available. Thank you for everything, Mary and team.
Maggie Mae's School's Voice
Maggie has been more focused, and it is clear that she has built her confidence and resilience while studying this course. She has not relied on the pastoral team at all throughout the 10‑week programme and now has a new focus on her future with a refreshed mindset. Maggie‑Mae would be at our office every day on some weeks seeking emotional support.
Well done, Maggie‑Mae, on your latest achievement. It is my opinion that you will definitely be an amazing mental health nurse, and we wish you all the very best for the future. A real credit to our school.
Thank you to The Life Matters for supporting our student.
Other Children
“I have stopped self-harming now because this programme helped me understand why I was hurting myself.”
— Male, Age 13, Strood Academy
“I used to take drug overdoses and was frequently in hospital. This programme identified my child protection needs, made the necessary referrals, and The Life Matters supported me to overcome my fears.”
— Female, Age 13
“As a young carer and school refuser who self-harmed, I was proud to use my voice to help create the A Child’s Voice programme by participating in the trials and giving feedback. The Life Matters helped me seek pathways for undiagnosed autism and empowered me with coping strategies that helped me stop self-harming.”
— Female, Age 13, Strood Academy
“I was always in trouble at school, but this programme helped me understand positive relationships and boundaries, which made me feel safe. I used self-harm as a way to cope. The Life Matters was my advocate at school and helped me find my voice. Now, my voice keeps me safe in positive ways.”
— Female, Age 14, Aspire Academy
“I self-harmed because I didn’t know I was being sexually exploited. I often ran away from home and used self-harm to cope. Although I had a social worker, I didn’t bond with her. I participated in the creation of the A Child’s Voice programme, which included education about sexual exploitation. It took time, but now I understand my behaviours and can keep myself safe by understanding the consequences of risk-taking.”
— Female, Age 13, School refuser, child in need
Comments during the programme (Week 5):
“This course is helping me understand why I think and feel the way I do in certain situations. I already understand myself much better and feel more confident managing challenging situations.”
— Female, Age 14, Young carer, Fort Pitt
“A Child’s Voice helped me understand myself in ways other services didn’t. The wellbeing officer explained things in a way I could actually relate to, and for the first time, I felt truly heard. The one-to-one sessions and workbook tasks helped me realise how to be kind to myself. I’ve now made a pledge to stop self-harming and haven’t self-harmed since. My wellbeing score has improved from 7 (sad) to 4 (happy). I have my workbook to refer back to for safety planning, so I can seek help at any time.”
— Young person, age 14, Victory Academy School, Chatham, 2025
“This programme has made a big difference to my mental health. I was self-harming and having suicidal thoughts at the start, but by week 2 I had stopped hurting myself, and by week 5 the suicidal thoughts had also gone. I know they might come back, but now I have better ways to cope and know how to get help in a crisis. The programme helped me build my self-esteem and was part of what helped me get into a SEN school. I feel more confident expressing myself and reaching out when things are hard. I started at 10 on the sad end of the wellbeing scale and finished at 2 near the happy end. I’ll keep using the strategies and my workbook. I’ll really miss seeing the wellbeing officer.”
— Young person, age 13, Victory Academy School, Chatham, 2025
The Charity
The Life Matters is a
Being a CPD Member strengthens The Life Matters’ commitment to delivering high-quality, evidence-based support for children and young people. Our membership ensures that our programmes meet recognised professional standards, and it enables our team to continually develop their skills through accredited learning. This commitment to ongoing professional development enhances the impact, consistency, and safeguarding integrity of the services we provide to schools, families, and communities.
Where Our Work Happens
Monday – Thursday (9:00 AM – 5:00 PM):
We deliver our programmes face-to-face in schools and professional settings, with online support available via Zoom.
Friday: Based at Our Hub
Our Hub is a dedicated space where we:
- Provide one-to-one interventions for children and young people
- Offer training for professionals
Details:
When: Fridays, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Where: Broadside
Online option: Appointments also available via Zoom
A Special Thank You
We are grateful to MHS Homes for generously providing the space for our Hub. Their supportallows us to offer a welcoming and accessible environment for all our children, young people, and professionals.
Safeguarding Children by Working in Partnership
- Statutory & Government Services – trusted authorities across sectors, including DWP
- Police & Justice – supporting law enforcement and probation
- Mental Health & CAMHS – children, adolescents, and families
- NHS & Health Providers – local and national care services
- Local Authorities – we have a contract with Medway Council
- Safeguarding & Multi-Agency Networks – protecting children and adults, including:
- Kent Safeguarding Children Multi-Agency Partnership (KSCMP)
- Charities & Voluntary Organisations – community-driven impact
- Education – schools, colleges, and higher education
- Early Help & Family Support – empowering families and youth
- Youth Justice & Social Work – practical intervention and guidance
- Housing & Supported Accommodation – safe homes for young people
- Homelessness & Domestic Abuse Services – critical support networks
- Substance Misuse & Recovery – specialist recovery services
- Community & Faith Organisations – local engagement and care
- Public Health Services – wellbeing initiatives
- Virtual Schools & Foster Care – supporting children in care
- National Suicide Prevention Alliance – life-saving partnerships
Our impact
Children who complete A Child’s Voice® report reduced self‑harm, improved emotional regulation and increased confidence. Schools and families tell us the programme changes lives.