A new look for a new chapter

With Sir Mark and Lady (Rachel) Waller, Charlie’s parents, stepping back from their roles, this is the right time to take stock of their remarkable achievements in creating the Trust, and to set our future direction.

Richard Waller, Charlie’s brother who succeeded Sir Mark as Chair earlier this year, says:

What my parents have achieved over the past 22 years is extraordinary. Charlie Waller has become one of the UK’s most respected mental health charities, with an established seat at the top table. We are impacting the lives of tens of thousands of children and young people. And we continue to reframe the conversation around mental health.

But we must now show the ambition to take this to the next level. To help demonstrate that, we have created a more contemporary brand that reflects the values and qualities that people ascribe to the Trust today: inspiring, caring, personal, reliable, relevant, direct and optimistic. The word ‘Memorial’ no longer appears in our name because, whilst we continue to remember Charlie every day, the Trust’s achievements mean that it has become more than simply a memorial to him. So Charlie of course continues to sit at the heart of our story and our purpose, but we have simplified our name to the more forward-looking Charlie Waller Trust.

Clare Stafford, Charlie Waller’s Chief Executive, agrees that Mark and Rachel’s incredible work has created a platform that allows the Trust to aim even higher.

There is real vibrancy about what we are doing today and the way we are responding to the major changes taking place in the world in which we work. That vibrancy is reflected in our new branding.

There is a lot more we want to do with all those who need us - young people, their parents, teachers, schools, colleges and universities, and employers. In particular, we want to do more for parents of children suffering mental health problems, and we want to focus on supporting young people at points of transition in their lives which can represent periods of heightened vulnerability.

And, of course, in today’s world we need to build more digital and remote delivery into what we do, whilst retaining the warmth and personal touch that we’re known for. Our new website offers a more personal journey for people as they explore the range of support that we can offer.

I am enormously grateful to everyone involved with Charlie Waller for the energy, commitment and flexibility they have shown during this year of change, and for the continued support from our many, many friends around the country. And I am equally excited about this next chapter in our journey.

We also want to recognise and thank Robin Worrall at design and brand consultancy Rednine, who has shown great support in recent months, working very successfully both to understand everything Charlie Waller stands for and then expressing this in his creative work.