A CHARITY founded in memory of a young man from Colchester who took his own life is continuing its campaign to help prevent future tragedies.
The Charlie Watkins Foundation was set up in 2017 after the death of Charlie Watkins, 22.
Mr Watkins, who appeared as a contestant on ITV dating show Take Me Out before his death, was a criminology graduate from York University but was from Colchester.
The foundation has now teamed up with Student Minds, the UK's student mental health charity, to create a new assessment tool so students can play a central role in making mental health a university-wide priority.
The tool will allow students to participate in the Student Minds’ University Mental Health Charter Award, a voluntary improvement scheme which assesses universities based on the University Mental Health Charter.
To achieve the award, universities will work alongside students and a team of peer assessors to evaluate their progress towards meeting the charter.
Students will work with staff towards meeting the demands of the charter and achieving an award for the university.
Harry Watkins, the twin brother of Charlie and co-founder of the Charlie Watkins Foundation, said: “This is a huge step forward in our fight for more recognition of mental health at universities.
“Many students still face barriers in accessing mental health support and many universities feel they need further training.
“By working with Student Minds on this assessment tool, we can help universities recognise the challenges their students face and how it might affect mental health.”
Read more:
- Tributes paid to tragic Take Me Out contestant Charlie Watkins
- Mental health hero Harry meets the Prime Minister
- Student Charlie Watkins' suicide prompts 'Chat with Charlie' helpline at Essex University
The University Mental Health Charter Award was piloted at three universities in 2020.
Student Minds recruited a panel of students who identified the need for an assessment tool to enable student evaluations of their university’s practice to be central to the Charter Award.
Foundation - Harry and Tim Watkins
Leigh Spanner, interim head of engagement at Student Minds said: “We’re thrilled to be working with the Charlie Watkins Foundation on this project.
“The assessment tool will be vital in empowering students to play a key role in championing a whole-university approach to mental health and helping their university to achieve the Charter Award.
“We can’t wait to see this project come into fruition.”
The Charter Award Scheme assessment tool is being funded by donations to the Charlie Watkins Foundation.
Donate at www.justgiving.com/campaign/cwf or find out more at www.cwfoundation.co.uk/projects.
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