“Collaboration is key. Working together is the best thing you can do, to learn from each other, pool together expertise and resources to do a larger good than you could do independently. ” – Tanya Marwaha

Founder@ Interview

Interview with Tanya Marwaha

“Collaboration is key. Working together is the best thing you can do, to learn from each other, pool together expertise and resources to do a larger good than you could do independently. .” – Tanya Marwaha

Today we feature Tanya :Marwaha, the founder at Championing Youth Minds . We hear their story in their own words, their successes, their challenges and their insights.

Let’s start by getting to know you. Can you please tell us a little bit about you and what you do?
I am a university student who decided to pioneer youth mental health awareness during the pandemic from my bedroom. From a young age, I struggled with mental health as a result of developing long-term health conditions.

Navigating mental health support as a young female in the South Asian community was a challenge due to the stigma and superstitions attached to mental health.

In March 2021 and despite receiving no funding or formal support, I set up a youth-led non-profit organisation Championing Youth Minds. Championing Youth Minds has been providing free online resources, workshops, and a safe space to over 400 young people across the UK and internationally.

This summer I launched a free 10 week virtual workshop program, open to all young people to both attend and host, to educate about mental wellbeing strategies. Championing Youth Minds aims to bridge the gaps in our education system surrounding mental health education and shine a light on the topics that affect us young people today.

A great introduction and start to this interview. Can you please tell us, how did you start, from what age, and what made you decide to change direction and start?

I am a final year undergraduate student at the London School of Economics. At the time of founding Championing Youth Minds I was 19 years old and in my 2nd year of study. I decided more needs to be done to support youth mental health and that needs to be pioneered by young people themselves, so took the leap to found this myself.

Thank you for that insight. So can you tell us…What does your business do and where is your company based?

Championing Youth Minds was founded in Worthing, UK in response to the mental health pandemic our country is facing with a particular focus on the devastating impact on our youth.

We aim to provide a platform through which young people can help other young people care for their mental wellbeing.

Through free online resources accessible to all schools, parents and youth, workshops and social media, we help our youth understand mental health and effective strategies that work best for them.

What’s the story behind your success? What led to your aha moment? how did you get to where you are now?

One day earlier this year I was on a walk and was thinking about the rising crisis for youth mental health when this idea popped up in my mind. I decided to take a leap of faith and contact my local council for support. For many months it was just myself running this organisation as a one-person team; content creation, web design, outreach, sponsorship etc.

Thank you for sharing that. What’s been your life’s biggest lesson so far?

The biggest lesson so far has been that many people underestimate the potential of young people. I have learnt that years of work experience does not determine what can and cannot be done by someone, which is something I have proven to different individuals along the way. I encountered many people who told me to give up as I was not prepared with the right experience of resources, but I did not let this stop me.

I wish i knew to block out some of the noise and continue pursuing what I wanted to do without letting people get too much to my head.

If you were to go back in time, what piece of advice would you give to your younger self?

You can achieve anything you want if you truly believe in yourself and work towards it.

We’re nearly halfway through our interview so it’s a great time to ask how does your business run. What three tools make your business run better?

Young people, passion and lived experience.

What do you know now that you wished you had known before?

I wish i knew to block out some of the noise and continue pursuing what I wanted to do without letting people get too much to my head.

What has been your greatest or proudest achievement or moment?

We delivered a free online 10 week workshop program to over 400 young people.

What future life goals do you want to achieve and why?

I want to embed the Championing Youth Minds’ community to more and more young people’s lives. I want mental wellbeing education and strategies to be integrated into every young person’s life growing up at school and at home. This is so important to ensure young people get the support they need, do not suffer alone and do not tragically lose their lives to suicide.

To finish our inspire questions…”We believe that sharing inspiring words can inspire others.” If there was one positive thing you would say to someone to inspire and empower them what would it be and why?

Collaboration is key. Working together is the best thing you can do, to learn from each other, pool together expertise and resources to do a larger good than you could do independently.

“Thank you it has been great learning more about your founder story and Championing Youth Minds “

To learn more about Championing Youth Minds Visit https://www.championingyouthminds.com

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