Thank you to our founder, Nicola Byrom

As Nicola Byrom steps down from her role this month as the pioneering force behind Student Minds, it’s with the sincerest respect and gratitude that we reflect on her remarkable journey advocating for student mental health over the last couple of decades.

From our inception, students have been at the centre of everything we have achieved at Student Minds. When we began peer support was viewed with much caution in the sector, but through Nicola’s visionary and authentic leadership we were able to provide safe spaces for people to receive peer support and talk about their experience of eating difficulties at university. Nicola’s leadership with SMaRteN also then allowed us to be more innovative and research-led, driving us to find the best solutions for students and moving us towards  the de-stigmatisation and empowerment of students grappling with mental health challenges at university. In 2009, the charity started with just a handful of staff and students. Nicola’s passion and drive has inspired countless individuals to join the cause to a point where we are now at over 30 staff and just under 100 volunteers, and our reach has grown exponentially. 

Through her tireless work to champion and challenge us at Student Minds and within the health and education sector, we now stand in a position as a sector where we have a much greater understanding of our role in supporting students, as well as university staff mental health. It is safe to say that without Nicola, the sector would not be where it is today, and Student Minds would not be the force for positive and sustainable change that it has become.

Beyond Nicola’s professional accomplishments, she has touched the lives of countless individuals during her career providing support and mentorship to many. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Nicola as founder of this charity; congratulate her for the incredible achievement of Student Minds; and wish her the best as she continues to work on innovative student mental health research, lead SMaRteN as well as various other initiatives. 

We know you will continue to touch many and be a strong supporter of Student Minds for many more decades. We will endeavour to uphold your legacy by ensuring that no student is held back by their mental health. 

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