A new mental health service has helped 100 young people since it was started in memory of a popular schoolboy.

The former Meopham Secondary pupil Elliott Holmes died aged 19, in June 2020, after struggling for several years with his mental health.

The Elliott Holmes Memorial Fund was set up a year later by his stepdad Peter Scutts and his partner, Elliott’s mum, Kerry, as they were determined his legacy would be to help others.

The organisation aims to provide funding for one-to-one private talking therapy for vulnerable young people aged between 13 and 18 living in Gravesham.

Since funding started in April 2022, it has given 100 youngsters in the borough access to fast and direct mental health counselling.

Peter said: “Early intervention is key, but it simply was not happening. We are living in a totally different world from the one 25 years ago.

“Technological advances and social media have changed the world, they have many positives but they have also impacted young people’s mental health and contributed to the increase in demand.”

There are around 1,600 young people who have a mental health disorder in the borough, Peter added.

Partnering with 10 The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) mental health counsellors, the Elliott Holmes Memorial Fund has given young people the opportunity to self-refer via a form online for face-to-face counselling.

Money to fund the counselling sessions has been raised through events, run by both by the organisation itself and the community, and by a series of grants from Kent Community Foundation, the Lawson Endowment Trust and Landsec.

Peter added: “We could not possibly have achieved the level of support for these young people without the endless dedication from our team, the local community and the businesses who have supported us - honestly, there are too many people to thank individually.”

The Elliott Holmes Memorial Fund is also hosting a fundraising walk in memory of Thamesview School pupil Tristan Taylor who died in May after struggling with his mental health.

Since his death, his mum is encouraging young people to chat about their mental health and raising money for a talking bench.

The five-mile walk around Higham will take place on Sunday (September 24) and is £10 per person. It starts at Higham Memorial Hall at 9.45am.

The money raised will be used to fund further counselling for young people.