Muckle helps gift mental health support through creative intervention programme

We're delighted to have supported a unique programme supporting children aged 7-11 years with their mental health.

We joined forces with Ryder Architecture and award-winning theatre, drama, and creative learning company Mortal Fools to support the distribution of their children’s mental health programme, MELVA, by gifting 13 licences between them to schools across the North.

Positive intervention

MELVA is a creative intervention programme for key stage two children, their teachers, and families, designed in response to the 2017 green paper ‘Transforming children and young people’s mental health provision’ and the national young people’s mental health crisis, which currently sees one in six children aged 5-16 with diagnosable mental health conditions.

Initially established by Mortal Fools as a live touring performance package for North East schools, the MELVA programme has since been developed into a digital resource, making it accessible to thousands of young people across the UK, with 66 schools using it.

This chargeable web-based creative programme, which is available through annual licences, MELVA is designed to be led by teaching staff in schools, taking children through a fun and creative story-based programme designed to help them better understand and manage their emotions and mental wellbeing.

The digital resource was particularly beneficial for young people’s mental health during Covid-19 and supported with the isolation caused by lockdowns and the ongoing post-pandemic impact.

Compassionate collaborations

Kiz Crosbie, Mortal Fools CEO & Artistic Director said: “Collaborations with compassionate and civic-minded business partners like Muckle LLP and Ryder Architecture enable us to remove significant barriers for schools to access this important programme, placing effective mental health resources directly into the hands of the children who need it most.

"The more businesses like this we work with, the more children we can reach. We would love more businesses to invest in Melva so that we can reach even more young people!”

Hugh Welch, senior partner from Muckle LLP said: “We are delighted to have been
able to partner with Mortal Fools. We believe that business can and should be a force for good giving back and sharing our success is central to our values and culture.

"We know that all actions, big and small, can move the needle in a positive direction. That’s why it’s important for us to be able to support our local community with resources like MELVA, which align with our values of supporting young people, overcoming disadvantage, and improving social mobility.”

Richard Wise, Partner from Ryder Architecture, added: “I have two hats to wear when it
comes to Mortal Fools. As a partner at Ryder Architecture, I cannot praise them enough for what they do. Many of our people have benefitted from the personal and professional development training programmes they deliver. As Chair of Trustees, I am incredibly proud of the positive impact Mortal Fools has on the lives of the young people they serve."

For more information on the MELVA programme visit MELVA.

You can find out more about our ESG work here.