Olive Academies launches pioneering collaborative programme for vulnerable children in Cambridgeshire supported by The Evelyn Trust
We have launched a two-year initiative generously supported by funding from The Evelyn Trust, extending our successful Olive Outreach programmes. The project will bring together a wide range of partners across education, health, wellbeing and community sectors, facilitating and driving a collaborative approach to improving wellbeing for Cambridgeshire’s most vulnerable and excluded children and young people.The initiative will connect young people with specialist support, providing early intervention for those with social, emotional or mental health needs. Working alongside health professionals, local authorities and community organisations, the project will embed early intervention directly into schools, helping to prevent exclusions and reduce long-term pressures on health and education services.
The project’s newly formed Healthcare and Wellbeing Steering Group, made up of NHS clinicians, researchers and education leaders, will play a crucial role in designing and reviewing impact measures, developing access to therapeutic programmes and strengthening professional collaboration across Cambridgeshire.
This extended Olive Outreach programme will deliver a comprehensive package of support, including access to a range of therapeutic interventions delivered through one-to-one work, group sessions and small-group programmes. Schools will also receive training and practical tools to help staff recognise early signs of social, emotional and mental health needs, respond effectively in the classroom and confidently signpost pupils to appropriate support. By embedding this knowledge within mainstream settings, the project reinforces the message that mental health is not solely a medical issue but a shared responsibility across education and community services.
Ryan Kelsall, Interim Director of Standards at Olive Academies, said: “This initiative, made possible by The Evelyn Trust, allows us to bring education, wellbeing and community partners together in a way that has never been done before in Cambridgeshire. By coordinating this work, we aim to build a sustainable model that improves outcomes for young people, schools and families for years to come.”
Dr Alison Sansome, Consultant Community Paediatrician, added: “There is a tsunami of demand for our services. The chance to consolidate wellbeing with education through Olive Outreach will be vital for the children and families we serve.”
Running until July 2027, the project aims to support over 500 children and young people and set a national benchmark for collaborative, integrated education and wellbeing provision.