CORPUS CHRISTIE SCHOOL / AGILITYPR.NEWS / May 13, 2025 / As Mental Health Awareness Week (May 12 - 18) approaches, Leeds-based educational travel provider Ottimi, an offshoot from the long-standing family business Max Ski, is collaborating with renowned mental health speaker Oly Newton to deliver crucial messages of resilience and purpose to secondary school students across Leeds.

With this year’s theme of ‘Community’, the initiative shines a light on the power of connection during one of the most stressful periods in a young person’s academic journey. Many students are currently facing the dual pressures of final exams and important decisions around their GCSE options or future pathways.

Figures from NHS England, obtained by the Children’s Commissioner for England, revealed that in 2023 almost one million children and young people were referred to Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services (CYPMHS), a staggering 8% of all children in England. Yet only a third received support. Shockingly, over 270,000 are still waiting, and almost 373,000 had their referrals closed before any support was accessed. Among them, nearly 40,000 children have been left waiting for over two years.

This backdrop underscores the urgency of Ottimi’s partnership with Oly. According to SaveMyExams, an alarming 85% of UK students are experiencing exam anxiety. This timely collaboration provides an essential opportunity to address mental wellbeing through community-centred solutions for school-aged students, be it in the classroom or outdoors.

Oly, an international advocate for mental health and neurodiversity, will be speaking to students in Leeds, including Year 9 pupils at Corpus Christi and Year 10s at 14+ Academies. Drawing from his personal journey of overcoming severe mental illness, Oly shares how movement and mindset transformed his life. He highlights how earlier mental health interventions and a better understanding of neurodivergence within educational settings could prevent many issues from escalating into adulthood, something powerfully conveyed during his previous “100 Talks for Schools” tour, in which he spoke with over 10,000 students across the country in 20 days.

Ottimi, named after the Italian word for "excellent", offers more than just educational trips. With a strong focus on wellbeing, Ottimi creates subject- and sports-based school travel experiences that nurture emotional growth, confidence, and a sense of belonging. Their trips intentionally provide a break from screen time and social media, instead encouraging students to connect with their peers, nature, and themselves. By stepping outside the classroom and the digital bubble, young people can rediscover their potential in a healthy, supportive setting.

Max Ski’s and Ottimi’s offering comes at a critical time. Recent data indicates that approximately 20% of children and young people aged 8 to 25 in England have a probable mental disorder, a figure that has been on the rise since 2017. Additionally, a significant number of students report struggling with anxiety and stress, often without adequate support.

Tom Bedford, CEO of Ottimi and Max Ski, and Oly Newton are available for live or pre-recorded interviews to discuss this collaboration, the current mental health landscape for teens, and how educational travel can play a role in supporting student wellbeing.