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16
Feb
New organisation pledges £45,000 for mental health support at Knaresborough school
A newly launched organisation has pledged £45,000 to fund mental healthcare provision at King James’s School in Knaresborough.
Become a Journey was inspired by the life of local woman Becki Ashton-Jones, a trained therapeutic counsellor who dedicated much of her professional life to supporting vulnerable young people.
Becki died in 2024, but her husband David and parents Steve and Anne Jones founded the organisation to continue her work caring for young people’s mental health.
David said his late wife was a “quiet force of compassion”, especially when it came to young people, particularly those navigating anxiety, loss, low confidence and troubled relationships.
He said:
She believed deeply in the power of connection, safe spaces, and simply being present with someone, trusting in them until they could believe in themselves.
Following a request for help from King James’s School, Become a Journey will provide £15,000 per year over three consecutive years to fund the placement of qualified mental health professionals from Well Connections at the school.
The practitioner will be based at the school for two days per week working closely with the school to ensure young people can access the right support when they need it.
David said:
When King James’s School publicly shared the challenges they were facing in supporting young people, it felt important to respond. Becki cared deeply about young people and believed in the power of connection and presence.
After speaking with Steve and Anne, we couldn’t think of a more worthy initiative with which to launch Become a Journey, one that reflects her values and makes a real difference to young people.
Cathryn Sutherland, attendance champion at King James’s School, said:
This support comes at a crucial time for our school. Even though we benefit from valuable support through services such as Wellbeing in Mind, CAMHS [child and adolescent mental health services] and other excellent provisions, further support remained essential to fully support our students’ needs.
The partnership with Become a Journey allows us to strengthen the support available to our young people in a meaningful and sustainable way, and we are extremely grateful for their commitment.
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