News about Think Ahead’s future funding
We’re sad to share news that the Department of Health and Social Care has decided not to continue funding the Think Ahead programme for the 2026 Cohort and beyond. Our 2025 Cohort – due to start this summer – will go ahead as planned. We are extremely disappointed with this decision. The Think Ahead programme […]
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13 Dec / 17In the media
“Exciting, a little bit scary” – participants catch up with Radio 4 about their Think Ahead journey
A year ago BBC Radio 4’s All in the Mind began a series of interviews with two members of Think Ahead’s 2016 intake – Charlotte Seymour and Alec Tooms. At that point Charlotte and Alec were at the beginning of their journey into mental health social work; a year on they are over half way […]
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23 Nov / 17News
“The participants have been a brilliant addition” – managers share their views on partnering with Think Ahead
At Think Ahead we are committed to evaluating our impact, to understand both how well we are doing and how we can be even better. We’ve commissioned an independent evaluation of our programme, and we’ve set up internal processes to regularly gather information and opinions from people involved with Think Ahead. We can now share […]
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15 Nov / 17News
A week in the shoes of a mental health social worker
We asked experienced mental health social workers what a typical week looks like. Here’s what they told us… Monday Spent morning preparing for meeting with Aleisha – a new referral from a GP – checking notes and establishing objectives. Then met her – some challenges establishing rapport, but ultimately it went well. Afternoon – met […]
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30 Oct / 17News
FILM: “It feels like a movement more than just an organisation” – graduates tell us why they joined Think Ahead
One of the benefits of gaining a place on the Think Ahead programme is that you join a diverse group of graduates and career-changers with a wide range of different ideas, but who are all motivated by a unifying goal: to see a society where everyone with mental health problems can flourish. Each year we […]
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20 Oct / 17In the media
“I knew mental health social work was challenging, stimulating and varied” – BBC interviews Think Ahead participant
A Think Ahead participant has shared her story of how experiencing mental health problems inspired her to become a mental health social worker. Catherine, who started the Think Ahead programme in July 2017, had depression while she was studying at Manchester University. At times she wasn’t sure if she’d be able to finish her degree, […]
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18 Oct / 17News
Impact Review launched: The journey we’ve been on, and our ambitions for the future
Supporters of Think Ahead gathered on Tuesday night for the launch of our first Impact Review. When we began in 2014, we set out to inspire a movement to advance our vision: to see a society where everyone with mental health problems can flourish. Now, with nearly 200 participants going through the programme, we’ve launched […]
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4 Oct / 17News
Think Ahead gets mental health careers recognised in Times Top 100 Graduate Employers list
We can today announce that Think Ahead has been placed at number 62 in the Times Top 100 Graduate Employers list – marking mental health social work as a career of choice for graduates for the first time. We are the only dedicated mental health employer on the list, which is dominated by corporates including […]
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4 Sep / 17News
Applications open to join Think Ahead in 2018
Today we open applications to join the Think Ahead programme in July 2018! We’re looking for around 100 talented graduates and career-changers to take on a graduate job that is both rewarding and challenging – one that will make a remarkable difference to adults living with mental health problems. If you’re motivated to do something […]
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4 Sep / 17Expert insight
“I really enjoy getting up in the morning and going to work” – watch Think Ahead participant Maisie discuss her work
Last July our first intake of talented graduates and career-changers began training as mental health social workers on the Think Ahead programme. One of these was Maisie Satchwell-Hirst, an Oxford graduate, who joined a community mental health service in Cambridgeshire. In the film below Maisie talks about her experiences in her unit, led by experienced […]
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21 Jul / 17News
“You are the people who can inspire change!” – Think Ahead Trustees welcome 2017 participants
This week marked another milestone for Think Ahead as our second intake of graduates and career changers began their journey into mental health social work. The 98 participants, who studied at over 50 different universities, arrived at our Summer Institute on Sunday for six weeks of intensive learning. We’re working in partnership with the Universities of York and […]
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14 Jun / 17In the media
Radio 4’s All in the Mind follows participant Al on the job
BBC Radio 4 programme All in the Mind has spent a day following Think Ahead participant Al Tooms – giving a rare insight into the complex role of a mental health social worker. To hear the full programme you can visit the the BBC website. Or you can listen to Al’s segment here: During the piece, Al […]
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24 May / 17In the media
Radio 4’s All in the Mind follows participant Charlotte on the job
Radio 4 programme All in the Mind has spent a day following Think Ahead participant Charlotte Seymour in her role training to be a mental health social worker – getting a unique insight into the kind of work she does supporting people with mental health problems. To hear the full programme you can visit the […]