Supporting people & communities
It’s easy for children to feel alone. MBCT provides fast, effective support throughout schools and communities, helping to protect and grow our future generation.
THE MICHAEL BARNARD CHARITABLE TRUST
A Charity founded in 2014.
With a basic aim of relieving poverty, suffering & injustice in the community.
The MBCT is a charity primarily dedicated to providing young people and their families with rapid response bespoke mental health care. Trying to get appropriate help through the usual channels can be likened to negotiating a minefield and a 10 minute slot with a GP followed by a two year wait to see a counsellor is not helpful when your child needs immediate attention. Our dedicated team of qualified counsellors, a mentor and a life coach are currently working across 7 secondary schools in the county of Essex, offering fast track support and advice, sometimes within 24 hours of referral. Our mental health counselling extends to bereavement, bullying (particularly on social media) and the pressure and stress brought about by exams, which is frequently accentuated with the fear of letting down parents. Our counsellors work hard with each student, giving them coping strategies to help make them feel more accepted in the world they previously didn’t feel part of.
Whilst our main emphasis is supporting young people, our Charity is not just about schools. We are concerned greatly with all poverty, suffering and injustice and also help adults in dire need. We offer support to the homeless, victims of domestic violence and focus on children with special needs through La Danse Fantastique, based in Basildon. We are immensely proud to have made a difference to the lives we have touched.
“Michael and his dedicated team of highly skilled professionals have been working across two of our Trust secondary schools, and the feedback from all involved, as well as the overall impact have been most impressive. The ability to have access to such a bespoke resource, which can be tailored to both school and individual pupil need, is simply invaluable, especially at a time when access to outside agency support is increasingly hard to secure. It is the flexibility and responsiveness of the team, which is making the support available so useful to school leaders, as every pupil is different, and every context is unique. We are incredibly grateful for all the excellent work being done for our pupils, and the greater good.”
Andy Hodgkinson MA Oxf
CEO of Zenith Multi Academy Trust
Giving students a safe space to talk
As the trust has evolved, it has become heavily committed to supporting children with mental health issues currently in education.
Providing fast effective support when needed
The charity has offered much support over the years including helping the homeless; supporting women and children suffering from domestic violence; and supporting a performing arts studio for children with special needs.
Meet Micheal
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Micheal Barnard, Founder
“I founded the charity in 2014 using my life savings. The basic aim of the trust is to relieve poverty, suffering and injustice.”
“I personally find it very rewarding to see how we have changed so many lives for the better and aim to continue building upon this legacy.”
Testimonials
See what the Headteachers of the schools we work alongside have to say about our support:
Mayflower High School
“The Michael Barnard Charitable trust has been working with Mayflower High School for over 3 years and have integrated so well that they are considered a part of our team. Their professional and consistent support has guided some of our most vulnerable students through the most challenging of times. They have enabled us, as a school, to provide an extra layer of support for these students and their future selves, therefore providing an invaluable service to our young people.Thank you for all you do. It makes a huge difference to the students and our school community.”
Damian Lee, Headteacher
Castle View School
“Our work, over several years, with Michael, Sindy and Joanne has proved invaluable for our children and young people. At a time where the wellbeing, welfare and mental health of children is ever most at the forefront of our minds, we are proud to have the capacity and expertise of Michael and his team to support this need. The relationship is as such that we consider them very much part of the Castle View team.”
Steve Durkin, Headteacher
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