Chronicle Summer 2023

17 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Youth in Mind Conference The Charity of the Year for 2023, as voted by pupils, parents and staff, is Oxfordshire Youth. A key focus of their work is training and advocacy around children and young people’s mental health. One of their major annual events is the Youth in Mind conference, organised in collaboration with Oxfordshire Mind, and hosted this year at St Edward’s on 4th July. Jodie Lloyd Jones, CEO of Oxfordshire Youth: ‘Youth in Mind is a fantastic annual opportunity to galvanise the people and organisations passionate about solving the mental health

crisis facing Oxfordshire’s young people. This conference unites education, public, health, police, and voluntary sectors, and most crucially creates a space for young people’s voices to be heard and be respected as part of the solutions. There has never been a more important time to ensure that every professional working with children and young people has the skills and connections they need to provide the best possible services.’

Jodie is pictured (right) with the Warden, Jess Willsher, Chief Executive Officer of Oxfordshire Mind, and Paul James, Chief Executive of the River Learning Trust and keynote speaker at the conference

Holly Branson OSE We were delighted to welcome Holly Branson OSE as our Guest of Honour at Gaudy this year. Holly was in Oakthorpe from 1998 – 2000 and was appointed Head of School in her Upper Sixth year. During her time at Teddies, Holly was Captain of Squash, played 1st XI hockey, sang in the Choir and was heavily involved in pupil-led community and environmental projects. After studying Medicine and Physiology at University College London, Holly joined the Virgin Group in 2008. In 2020, Holly was appointed Chief Purpose and Vision Officer and became a company Director, dedicating her time to her passions: people, purpose, culture and the future of work. She is also Chair of Virgin Unite, and a Founder and Trustee of Big Change. In 2018, Holly published her first book, co-authored with Marc and Craig Kielburger, the international bestseller: WEconomy: You can find meaning, make a living, and change the world . When not ‘changing business for good’, Holly lives in London with her husband, Freddie Andrewes OSE, and their three children Etta, Artie and Lola.