The Eikon Charity

What The Eikon Charity does

The Eikon Charity is a UK-registered charity and company limited by guarantee, founded in 1995 by Chris Hickford (now Chief Executive) in New Haw, Surrey, originally as The New Haw Youth Project. It delivers early-intervention emotional wellbeing and mental health support to children and young people in Surrey, working directly with beneficiaries and indirectly through parents, carers, and schools. Its core service portfolio includes the Wellbeing Ambassador Programme (a pupil-led training scheme delivered free in Surrey schools and sold as a £75 resource pack to schools outside Surrey), the Smart Schools whole-school wellbeing framework aligned with the Public Health England model, the Making Links programme for neurodivergent children aged 8–11, the Family Wellbeing Service (a newer line partially funded by Surrey's Police and Crime Commissioner), the We Move summer holiday programme, and one-to-one mentoring. Programmes are underpinned by the evidence-based Five Ways to Wellbeing framework (Connect, Learn, be Active, take Notice, Give) developed from New Economics Foundation research.

The organisation has no proprietary technology platform; its underlying "technology" is its evidence-based programme design, trained youth-work staff, and physical infrastructure including the Garden of Hopes and Dreams at its Fullbrook School site in New Haw. Distribution is overwhelmingly direct: in-person delivery through schools, community outreach, one-to-one sessions, and challenge events, with digital channels limited to its website (eikon.org.uk), newsletter, and social media (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, LinkedIn). The charity is part of the Surrey Wellbeing Partnership delivering the Mindworks Surrey NHS-aligned service, and partners with Surrey's Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Alliance to fund free Surrey-school training.

The business model is a multi-stream charity funding model rather than a commercial revenue model. Income (£2.5M as of a 2022 disclosure) is sourced from individual donations (monthly tiers of £25/£50/£100/£250 plus one-off gifts, with Gift Aid), corporate partnerships (charity of the year, employee engagement, sponsorship, in-kind — partners include Vail Williams, Waitrose, Bupa, Stanhope Seta, Samsung, Nuffield Health, Bigmore Associates, and Unum), challenge events (London Marathon, cycling, skydiving, triathlons), payroll giving, legacy gifts (via Irwin Mitchell, Co-op Legal, and Farewill partnerships), grants and statutory funding (Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner, Surrey Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Alliance), and modest commercial income from school resource packs (£75 each). 89% of Surrey secondary schools use Eikon's materials, and the charity employs or engages 100+ staff and volunteers. Founder Chris Hickford was awarded an MBE in the 2022 New Year Honours; Nigel Goddard serves as Chair of Trustees.

Name

The Eikon Charity

Legal name

The Eikon Charity

Website

https://eikon.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Eikon Charity is a Surrey-based UK charity that provides early-intervention mental health and emotional wellbeing support to children and young people, delivering programmes directly in schools and the community and reaching 89% of Surrey secondary schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Educational Support Services (611710), Other Individual and Family Services (62419)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

School-Based Mental & Behavioral Health Services (EDAJAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Programs & Supports (EDAJAIAC), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Family & Parent Support Services (Parent Coaching, Advocacy) (EDAJALAK)

Keywords

• Youth wellbeing services
• Children mental health
• School wellbeing programmes
• Family support services
• Early intervention charity

Headquarters

HQ city

Addlestone

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-off and recurring donations from individual supporters. Monthly donation options of £25, £50, £100, £250. Also accepts one-time gifts. Gift Aid scheme available to increase value of donations.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Partnerships with businesses including charity of the year arrangements, strategic partnerships, corporate grants, employee engagement, sponsorship, cause related marketing, and in-kind support. Companies include Vail Williams, Waitrose, Bupa, Stanhope Seta, Samsung, Nuffield Health, Bigmore Associates, Unum.
3. Challenge Events: Fundraising through challenge events including London Marathon, cycling events, skydiving, triathlons, hiking challenges. Runners and participants raise funds through personal fundraising pages.
4. Payroll Giving: Tax-efficient regular donations deducted directly from salary before tax. Donors set up recurring gifts through employer payroll systems.
5. Legacy Gifts: Bequests and legacies left in supporters' Wills. Provides long-term sustainable income for the charity.
6. Grants and Funding: Funding from government and public bodies including Surrey's Police and Crime Commissioner (£20,000 from Community Safety Fund), Surrey's Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Alliance. Annual income of £2.5m.
7. School Resources Sales: Sale of Wellbeing Ambassador training resources to schools outside Surrey for £75 per pack. Free for Surrey schools due to funding from Surrey's Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Alliance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Eikon Charity delivers early-intervention emotional wellbeing and mental health support for children and young people in Surrey, anchored on the evidence-based Five Ways to Wellbeing framework. Core offerings include the pupil-led Wellbeing Ambassador Programme, the Smart Schools whole-school approach, the Making Links neurodiversity programme, the Family Wellbeing Service, the We Move summer holiday programme, and one-to-one mentoring sessions, delivered directly through schools and community settings. Most services are free to Surrey schools and families, with paid training resource packs (£75) available to schools outside Surrey.

Product overview

The Eikon Charity offers a portfolio of youth wellbeing services focused on early intervention for children and young people in Surrey. The core offerings include the Wellbeing Ambassador Programme (a pupil-led school training programme free for Surrey schools), Smart Schools (whole school wellbeing approach), Making Links (neurodiversity support for ages 8-11), Family Wellbeing Service, and We Move holiday programmes. These services are underpinned by the evidence-based 5 Ways to Wellbeing framework. The organization also provides downloadable resources including wellbeing posters, school resources, and partners with Mindworks Surrey to deliver integrated mental health support. The charity operates through schools, communities, and direct one-to-one mentoring, with approximately 89% of Surrey secondary schools using their materials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HeadSmart: HeadSmart is the programme name for Eikon's Wellbeing Ambassador training programme, a pupil-led initiative designed to amplify student voice on whole school wellbeing.

Products and services

• Wellbeing Ambassador Programme (HeadSmart)

Quantifiable outcome

• 89% of Surrey secondary schools using Eikon's materials
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Surrey's Police and Crime CommissionercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 September 2025Awarded £20,000 from Community Safety Fund towards first year of Family Wellbeing Service. Commissioner Lisa Townsend and Deputy Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson visited Eikon's Garden of Hopes and Dreams.
• Vail WilliamscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational property consultancy partnered as corporate charity of the year. Team has raised £6,629 over 2 years through cycling challenges, parachute jumps, Santa Runs, and quiz nights. Received Challenge Cup award for best supporting ethos of cycling challenge.
• WaitroseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing support through community engagement and potential in-kind donations.
• BupaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting youth mental health initiatives.
• Stanhope SetaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner with director Giles Verity quoted supporting Eikon's work with young people.
• SamsungminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting Eikon's charitable mission.
• Nuffield HealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner in wellbeing and mental health support.
• Bigmore AssociatesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting Eikon's charitable activities.
• UnumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing support for employee wellbeing initiatives.
• Mindworks Surrey (Surrey Wellbeing Partnership)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEikon is part of the Surrey Wellbeing Partnership delivering Mindworks Surrey service - a new alliance of NHS and voluntary sector organisations providing early intervention mental health support for children and families.
• Irwin MitchellminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership offering supporters 15% discount on Will-writing services.
• Co-op Legal ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership through Remember A Charity offering 20% discount on Will-writing services.
• FarewillminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFree Will-writing service partnership for supporters living in England or Wales.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Mind: Major UK mental health charity with dedicated children and young people programmes alongside adult services. Provides overlapping capabilities but operates at a national scale across all mental health conditions, not specialising in Eikon's youth-only niche.
• Barnardo's: One of the UK's largest children's charities, running a broad portfolio of services including mental health, family support, and safeguarding. Significantly larger and more diversified than Eikon, with overlapping beneficiary base.

Direct peers

• Charlie Waller Trust: UK charity focused on young people's mental health through school programmes, parent resources, and workplace training. Directly comparable mission and school-based delivery approach to Eikon's Wellbeing Ambassador model.
• The Children's Society: UK charity supporting disadvantaged children and young people through direct services, advocacy, and campaigning. Comparable beneficiary base and direct-delivery model, though with a broader remit beyond mental health.
• Anna Freud Centre: Children's mental health charity delivering training, research, and school-based interventions. Closely aligned with Eikon's focus on early intervention, school-linked support, and evidence-based practice; significantly larger and research-oriented.
• Place2Be: UK charity providing mental health support in schools through counselling, training, and whole-school programmes. Directly comparable to Eikon's school-based wellbeing delivery model and Surrey-scale operations, though Place2Be operates nationally with a larger footprint.
• YoungMinds: UK charity focused on children and young people's mental health, providing campaigning, parent helpline, and resources. Comparable mission and beneficiary base to Eikon, but operates at a national advocacy level rather than direct service delivery.

Emerging players

• Winston's Wish: UK charity supporting bereaved children and young people through counselling, resources, and school partnerships. Comparable scale and school-based delivery model, though specialises in grief rather than general mental health.
• Kooth: Digital mental health platform providing free, anonymous support to young people commissioned by NHS and local authorities. Overlaps with Eikon's youth mental health mission but uses a digital self-service model rather than in-person school delivery.
• Stem4: UK charity supporting young people with mental health issues through digital resources, apps, and school partnerships. Comparable youth mental health focus and school engagement, with a more digital/technology-oriented delivery model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EikonCharity
• Facebookfacebook.com/eikoncharity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eikon
• Instagraminstagram.com/theeikoncharity

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Eikon Charity