In February 2026, myself in a group of over 20 individuals will embark on an incredible journey to summit Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's tallest mountain, all in support of "Youth Talk!" Any of you who know me will appreciate that this challenge is truly outside of my comfort zone, a walk over the fields with my dogs Marvin & Mabel this is not, but the opportunity to raise funds for a charity I deeply believe in is too compelling to resist.

Every penny raised will go directly to Youth Talk, as the trip is entirely self-funded by the participants. Youth Talk’s mission is to provide exceptional mental health support to young people in St Albans and the surrounding areas. As a pioneering charity unique in the UK, they offer free and confidential face-to-face counselling for those aged 13-25 in the St Albans District. What sets Youth Talk apart is their commitment to ensuring that young people can access a whole year of support at no cost. On average, each young person receives about 25 sessions of counselling.

Currently, Youth Talk supports over 120 clients every week with counselling services, while another 80 are on the waiting list—a number that continues to grow. This highlights an urgent need for more resources and support.

How can you help? Just £10 pays for an hour of the Youth Talk team being available on the phone to take calls from those in need. A contribution of £25 helps provide essential resources shared with local schools, while £50 covers a full counselling session for a young person who requires it most. It’s vital that there exists a safe, trustworthy, calm, and professional environment where young people feel comfortable sharing what’s on their minds—Youth Talk provides just that.

With your donations—no matter how big or small—and your encouragement of our challenge, we can ensure that Youth Talk continues its invaluable work supporting local young people during critical times in their lives. Together, we can help them find courage, hope, happiness, and purpose! My personal target is set at £1,000 GBP. Any and all donations are greatly appreciated!