There has been rising anxiety, isolation, and emotional distress among girls in deprived communities. The mental support that these girls get is largely driven by crisis, with long NHS waiting lists and limited early intervention. Even schools lack capacity and funding to provide sustained preventative support.

Ella-Grace Gregoire grew up in Blackpool and experienced how mental health systems intervene too late. As a teenager, she was immediately heavily medicated instead of offered meaningful preventative support for her OCD. She now draws on that experience to challenge how mental health support is designed and delivered for girls.

Her-izon addresses the gaps between schools, NHS services, and community provision, where support too often arrives too late. Co-created with girls themselves, Her-izons draws on their lived experience to shape a practical wellbeing syllabus that will be presented for systemic influence. Through one-to-one mentoring, small-group sessions, school talks, and community workshops, participants build emotional literacy, resilience, and skills for everyday life. The programme will also include data collection, campaigning, and public speaking for maximum impact. By working closely with schools, social workers, youth providers, and NHS partners, Her-izons complements clinical services while embedding preventative, relational support. 

Her-izons is providing early, preventative mental health support for girls aged 8–19 before they reach a crisis point. By co-creating a wellbeing syllabus with young people, the project ensures the lived experiences of Gen Z and Gen Alpha are at the heart of the solution.

This proactive approach will drive significant improvements in emotional wellbeing, school attendance, and engagement. By intervening earlier, Her-izons reduces pressure on the NHS and crisis services, aligning schools, youth services, and health systems around a joined-up model. Ultimately, this creates a scalable, practitioner-led framework that can be replicated nationally to shift the systems governing young people’s wellbeing.

Ella-Grace Gregoire grew up in Blackpool and has run projects for young people and girls since the age of 17, impacting over 144,000 individuals. She has over 500 hours of mentoring experience and works directly with girls aged 8–19 through community programmes. 

She is trusted by schools, social workers, and health services, who regularly refer young people to her work. With long waiting lists and rising demand, she is responding to a local crisis while offering insights that can improve national systems.