The Tree of Life in Schools project received the ‘Most Impactful Project Addressing Health Inequalities’ at the Health Service Journal (HSJ) Partnership Awards 2024 on Thursday, 21st March at Evolution London in Battersea Park. This is in addition to receiving a Bronze Award for ‘Best Partnership for Mental Health’, and the collaboration was praised for its innovative and refreshing solution to tackling a significant issue.
Tree of Life is a narrative-based psychological intervention developed in South Africa, aiming to bring together communities and groups who have experiences of social suffering, as an alternative to traditional therapy methods.
East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) has led the collaborative project, having piloted the scheme in secondary schools with the support of Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs), who are trained to identify signs and respond to emerging mental health needs in young people. The sessions have been delivered by peer leaders trained by local charity Hackney CVS from African, Caribbean and dual heritage backgrounds – often matching the cultural background of students attending.
The overall objective of the project has been to provide young people from African, Caribbean and mixed heritage backgrounds a space to reframe identity in a positive way and discuss difficult personal experiences in a safe environment, while acknowledging future ambitions and promoting a sense of pride in their culture and background.
Additional partners involved in the project include the North East London (NEL) ICB, the City & Hackney’s Wellbeing and Mental Health in Schools Service (WAMHS), Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) at the East London NHS Foundation Trust, Hackney Council and the City of London Corporation.
The programme previously won two national healthcare awards in the space of one week in November 2023. The project received the ‘Innovation and Improvement in Reducing Healthcare Inequalities Award’ at the HSJ Awards 2023, and the ‘Mental Health and Wellbeing Award’ at the Children & Young People (CYP) Now Awards.
Speaking about the Trust’s HSJ Partnership Award win, Mariona Garcia Edo, who is the City & Hackney CAMHS Alliance Programme Manager, said: “We are delighted to have won yet another award for our Tree of Life in Schools project.
“This award adds to the recognition of hard work of everyone involved in this project, the impact of which could not be achieved without the strong partnership between our statutory and voluntary sector, together with schools. It is through close collaboration that we are putting the needs of young African, Caribbean and mixed heritage young people at the centre and working innovatively to meet their needs.”
One of Hackney CVS’ youth leaders, Abigail Asante, commented on the impact the project has had for students: “Tree of Life has played a pivotal role in many children’s’ lives – particularly the way they look at themselves internally and the impact it has on their wellbeing.
“I can strongly advocate for the project’s continuation, as we regularly see its impact in the community and love to see it help to shape bright futures.”