The Matthew Hackney Foundation

02/06/2026

💙 Children do not suddenly reach crisis point overnight.......

Anxiety often starts as a small worry.

Low mood may first appear as withdrawal or tiredness.

School avoidance can begin with a simple stomach ache before school.

Too often, children and young people wait far too long to access the support they need. During that time, difficulties can grow, confidence can fall, and families can feel increasingly alone.

At The Matthew Hackney Foundation, we are passionate about getting help early.

In our latest blog, we explore why early intervention matters, the impact waiting can have on children and young people, and why timely support can make such a difference.

📖 Read the blog here:
https://www.thematthewhackneyfoundation.co.uk/post/why-we-are-so-passionate-about-getting-help-early

💙 Every child deserves to be heard.
💙 Every child deserves support when they need it.
💙 Every child deserves the chance to thrive.

02/06/2026

💬 Parenting a teenager can be wonderful, confusing, rewarding and challenging... sometimes all in the same day!

We're always keen to share opportunities that may help parents and carers feel more supported.

Our friends at West Horsley Place are running Talking Teens, a FREE 4-week programme designed to help parents better understand teenage feelings, behaviour and development.

The course offers practical advice, reassurance and a chance to gain a deeper understanding of what may be going on beneath the surface for your teenager.

📅 Wednesdays from 3rd June
🕕 6:00pm – 8:00pm
📍 West Horsley Place
💷 Free to attend

To book your place, visit:
https://westhorsleyplace.org/whats-on/talking-teens

Because when parents feel supported, young people benefit too ❤️

31/05/2026

Sometimes you don’t need counselling.
Sometimes you just need someone to talk things through with 💙

Our FREE Drop-In Mental Health Support sessions are here for children, young people and families who may need:
✨ advice
✨ guidance
✨ signposting
✨ support accessing help
✨ a listening ear

You do not have to be in crisis to come along.

📍 Byfleet Library
📅 13th June
⏰ 1pm–3pm

No appointment needed. Just drop in.

Please share with anyone who may benefit 💙

29/05/2026

Happy National Biscuit Day 🍪💙

Important question…

Which biscuit gives the best emotional support?
☕ Digestive
🍫 Chocolate Hobnob
🍓 Jammy Dodger
🍪 Custard Cream
😂 Bourbon
👌 Rich Tea (controversial)

In all seriousness though…

A biscuit and a chat can sometimes go a long way.

Connection matters.
Community matters.
Feeling listened to matters.

And if things are feeling tough lately, please remember:
You do not have to wait until crisis point to reach out for support 💙

28/05/2026

Running a local charity means:
☕ lots of coffee
📱 replying to messages at odd hours
💻 juggling approximately 47 things at once
😂 celebrating tiny wins
🫶 meeting incredible people in the community
…and occasionally surviving entirely on biscuits.

But honestly?
Seeing children, young people and families access support earlier makes every busy moment worth it 💙

27/05/2026

A little reminder that progress does not always happen loudly 💙

One of the children we support in school had been struggling to engage in the classroom and was finding school incredibly difficult.

At the start, building trust took time.

Now, he arrives at sessions excited to tell our counsellor all about:

⭐ the great things he has done that week
⭐ moments he felt proud of
⭐ successes in class
⭐ positive experiences with friends and teachers

Those conversations might sound small to some people.

But when a child who once struggled to engage begins to feel safe, confident and proud of themselves… that matters enormously.

Early support can make such a difference 💙

23/05/2026

Weekend reminder 💙

You do not need to earn rest.

You are allowed to:
☀️ slow down
📵 switch off
🫶 say no
☕ take a break
😂 enjoy yourself
🌿 spend time outside
💬 talk things through

Sometimes the smallest moments help us recharge the most.

Whatever this weekend looks like for you, we hope you find a little breathing space in it 💙

22/05/2026

National Beer Garden Day?
We’ll cheers to that ☀️🍻

Today’s reminder:
Mental health support can also look like:
🍟 chips with friends
☀️ sunshine on your face
😂 laughing until you snort
📱 ignoring your emails for an hour
🫶 checking in on someone
🍹 saying “I needed this”

Small moments matter.

Be kind to yourself this weekend 💙

And remember — support doesn’t always start with counselling. Sometimes it starts with a conversation.

19/05/2026

🚨 BIG NEWS (and a tiny favour!) 💚

The Benefact Group are giving away TEN £5,000 charity grants 🎉

And we’d absolutely LOVE it if you could nominate us 🫶

Just one nomination could help us continue providing early mental health support for children and young people across Surrey.

✨ £5,000 could help support up to 50 children in one school over the course of a year ✨

It honestly only takes a minute!

💚 The Matthew Hackney Foundation
💚 Charity Number: 1208669

Every nomination means the world to us — thank you for supporting children’s mental health 💚

Please share if you can too !!

Nominate a charity for a Movement for Good award now.