Manju Shahul-Hameed Foundation for Mental Health Celebrates 8 Years of Community Impact in London

LONDON Nov 27: The Manju Shahul-Hameed Foundation for Mental Health (MSH Foundation), a Croydon-based registered charity (1176447) dedicated to improving mental health equity and strengthening community wellbeing, marked its 8th Anniversary with a landmark celebration at the House of Lords. The event was hosted by Baroness Manzila Uddin and attended by parliamentarians, clinicians, community leaders, business partners, volunteers, young people and supporters from across Croydon, London and the UK.

Founded in 2017 by Toni Letts OBE and Cllr Dr Manju Shahul-Hameed, the charity has grown from a small grassroots initiative into a powerful community movement. It has now delivered more than 400 free community events and works in partnership with over 250 community and voluntary sector organisations, making a significant impact across Croydon.

Opening Remarks: Growth, Impact and Community Support

In her opening remarks, Toni Letts OBE, Chair of the Charity, reflected on the journey so far, praising the charity’s growth, innovation and strong partnerships. She highlighted that “the Foundation continues to grow because it genuinely meets people where they are, and because of our valued sponsors, partners and volunteers who make this impact possible.”

Celebrating Community-Led Support

The charity’s key programmes were showcased, demonstrating its commitment to culturally competent, accessible and community-rooted mental health support:

• Four Intergenerational Dementia Cafés across Croydon
• Coffee with Counsellor offering practical and emotional support at the food bank for homeless people, refugees and asylum seekers.
• National Commission for Mental Health amplifying young people’s voices
• Youth empowerment initiatives, including conferences at the House of Lords and House of Commons
• Love Not Hate: Young Stars of London gives young people a creative space to express themselves through performance, unity and dialogue.
• Living Well with Psychosis, in partnership with Maudsley Charity
• Pop-Up Mental Health Hub – “Mental Health Hour” – in local faith centres and community spaces

The Foundation is also working with the Empower Dementia Network and King’s College London to co-produce culturally appropriate dementia resources for South Asian families.

Launch of the 2025 Youth Conference Report

A highlight of the evening was the official launch of the 2025 Youth Conference Report, introduced by Glenn Pearson, Deputy Director of the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU). The report reflects the voices of over 100 young people and sets out recommendations on mental health, safety, education, inclusion and early intervention.

Barrister Stephen Akinsanya praised the charity’s youth empowerment model, stressing the need for compassion-centred approaches, stating:
“There are no bad children — only children failed by the systems around them.”

Parliamentarians and Leaders Show Support

Distinguished speakers included:

• Cllr Richard Chatterjee, Civic Mayor of Croydon
• Sarah Jones MP
• Natasha Irons MP
• Sojan Joseph MP
• Claire Reynolds, Executive Director, Labour Party
• Marvin Francis, Wellbeing Manager, BBC
• Shahid Alam, Counsellor for Political and TSI Affairs, High Commission of India, London
• Dr Teia Rogers, Maudsley Charity
• Dr Andy Bradshaw, King’s College London

Other guests included former Mayors Cllr Nasim Ali, Cllr Sherwan Chowdhury and Philip Abraham, as well as Cllr Catherine Wilson.

Entertainment was provided by young performers Ananya Anil and Caren Georgee.

Awards Presented

The following awards were presented by Sarah Jones MP and Baroness Manzila Uddin during the celebration:

• Ms Leah Rose Jobince – Emerging Woman in Enterprise Award
• Dr Binto Simon – Emerging Educator Award
• Mr. Tijo Joseph – Outstanding Achiever in Multiple Industries Award

A Celebration of Volunteers and Partnerships

With more than 60 volunteers behind its work, the Foundation celebrated the dedication of young people, trustees, community partners and sponsors. Special recognition was given to Dr Simon’s Academy of Science, Fairmart, Arkee Capital and the charity’s photography and design partners.

Closing Remarks: A Message from Cllr Dr Manju Shahul-Hameed

In her closing thanks, Cllr Dr Manju Shahul-Hameed expressed deep gratitude to everyone who contributed to the charity’s journey:

“We are not just an organisation — we are a family. Our work is built on love, compassion and community. Together we are breaking stigma, lifting one another and creating hope for those who need it most.”

Looking Ahead

As it enters its ninth year, the Foundation will expand its dementia support, deepen its youth engagement through the National Commission for Mental Health and deliver new community-led programmes shaped through co-production. The charity will also continue its December 2025 series of Dementia Café celebrations across Croydon.