Millie’s Trust raised over £10,000 through the Aviva Community Fund to provide mental health first aid training to people who work with children.

Based in Cheadle Hulme, Millie’s Trust is a charity with a special purpose.

“Our daughter Millie passed away when she choked in her nursery,” says Joanne Thompson, CEO of Millie’s Trust. “We decided that we wanted to do something in her memory and the only thing we could think about was that she needed first aid that day.”

Joanne and her husband Dan founded Millie’s Trust to provide paediatric first aid training to parents and people who work with children. The charity then expanded its scope to include first aid in the workplace, and recently, they’ve moved into another area: mental health.

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“Following the death of my daughter, I suffered a lot with mental health problems. Having those problems and getting through them made me want to help other people as well,” Joanne says.

Millie’s Trust decided to offer youth mental health first aid courses, which are designed to give people who work with children the knowledge to spot the signs of mental health problems. It can make all the difference to children who are suffering in silence, meaning they get the help they need at an early stage.

But the charity knew it would be difficult for many people to raise the money to attend. They wanted to subsidise as many places as possible – so they applied to the Aviva Community Fund.

Through Crowdfunder, Millie’s Trust hit their £10,000 target. It’s enough money to train 140 people in youth mental health first aid. That’s 140 more teachers, youth workers, and healthcare workers who can help children with mental health problems – and potentially hundreds of children’s lives changed for the better.

Can we aid your project with funding or support? Apply for the Aviva Community Fund today.

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