OA-Cambridge forges stronger connections with support from The Evelyn Trust
Olive Academies has launched a new two-year collaborative wellbeing initiative across Cambridgeshire, made possible through generous funding from The Evelyn Trust.
Building on the success of the trust’s existing outreach work, the programme brings together partners across education, health, wellbeing and community services to improve outcomes for some of the county’s most vulnerable and excluded children and young people.
Colleagues at OA-Cambridge and OA-Nene Valley have been instrumental in shaping and developing the programme. Their local expertise and established relationships have helped ensure that pupils across the region have access to specialist support, while schools benefit from clearer pathways into therapeutic provision and practical tools to help respond to social, emotional and mental health needs in the classroom.
The initiative embeds early intervention into mainstream school settings, working closely with health professionals, local authorities and community organisations to support pupils before challenges escalate to exclusion. A newly established Healthcare and Wellbeing Steering Group, including NHS clinicians, researchers and education leaders, will guide the development of interventions and oversee impact measures across Cambridgeshire.
Mark Kirby, Head of Academy at OA-Cambridge, commented:
“In just a few months, this programme has already demonstrated what’s possible when schools and local services work together. Colleagues at OA-Cambridge and OA-Nene Valley have been central to that progress, helping pupils access timely support and clearer routes into specialist provision. The early impact for pupils has been hugely positive and it’s only just beginning.”
Running until July 2027, the initiative aims to support over 350 children and young people by establishing a sustainable, joined-up model of education and wellbeing support that can be shared more widely.