Charity Nest’s Founder, William Hill, is appointed as the Strategic Advisor to Student Minds by their CEO

William Hill, the founder of Charity Nest, has taken on an important new role as a strategic advisor to Student Minds, the UK's leading charity dedicated to supporting student mental health. Pictured alongside CEO Yemi Onoabhagbe, this appointment follows the acquisition of It Gets Brighter, a charity where William previously served as a trustee.

Student Minds was established in 2009 and originated from a student-led support group created to help those facing mental health challenges at university. Founded by Dr. Nicola Byrom after her own struggles with mental health, the charity aims to ensure that students with issues such as eating disorders have easier access to support. The initial groups, which were facilitated by trained student volunteers, were based on the belief that everyone deserves support and that open conversations can significantly aid recovery. Today, charity now operates with an annual turnover of several million pounds, reflecting its growing impact and the increasing demand for its services.

In 2013, the organisation rebranded as Student Minds and merged with Mental Wealth UK, further enhancing its mission to raise awareness of mental wellbeing and encourage discussions about mental health on campuses. The charity has achieved numerous milestones since its inception, including the publication of the University Mental Health Charter in 2019 and the launch of the Charter Programme, which encourages universities to adopt a comprehensive approach to mental health and wellbeing. In 2020, Student Minds also introduced Student Space, a dedicated support programme for students. Additionally, the charity has expanded its network of trainers to empower students to create their own mental health toolkits and support their peers.

It Gets Brighter, founded in 2016 by a group of University of Oxford alumni, sought to address mental health issues affecting young people. William joined the board of trustees in 2021, working alongside a diverse group of experts, including neuroscientist Emma Lawrance from Imperial College London, psychologist Joshua Chauvin from Harvard University, and Roxanna Abhari from the University of Oxford.

During his time with It Gets Brighter, William and the team recognised the damaging stigma around mental health, which often leaves young people feeling isolated and reluctant to seek help. They believed that by sharing personal experiences, young people could empower each other and foster hope. This vision led to the development of a mental health storytelling app that encourages safe and confident sharing of lived experiences. The initiative gained international recognition, receiving a tweet from Stephen Fry at its launch, being featured in The Economist, and earning invitations to present at the World Health Organisation Innovation Summit and a TEDx talk.

In 2023, It Gets Brighter merged its technology with the Australian mental health charity Batyr and its OurHerd app. Following this merger, the resources and team were acquired by Student Minds, aligning their missions to enhance mental health support for students.

Throughout his involvement with It Gets Brighter, William has played a pivotal role in redefining the charity's vision, restructuring leadership roles, enhancing reporting standards, and overseeing the merger and acquisition processes. His extensive experience and insights will be invaluable to Student Minds as they continue their crucial work advocating for mental health support in the student community.