Lambeth LGBTQ+ changemakers: the Harvey Parker Trust

23 July 2024

Written by: Lambeth Council

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Amanda Parker started a charity – the Harvey Parker Trust – to help young creative people manage their own and others’ mental health.

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Lambeth LGBTQ+ changemakers: the Harvey Parker Trust

Lambeth has long been the home to radicals, reformers, and innovators – people who changed history by campaigning, protesting, making things better in the lives of other people.

Following Pride Month, we ‘re sharing the stories of people from the LGBTQ+ community who have been – and still are – active in helping to make Lambeth  a borough of equity and justice.

Harvey Parker Trust

Harvey Parker was a 20 year old Lambeth resident and talented musician who took their own life shortly before Christmas 2021.

Tools to manage mental health

In 2023, the Harvey Parker Trust was created to champion the mental health needs of marginalised young creatives who experience poor mental health.

Charity founder, Harvey’s mother Amanda Parker, said: “We want to build a programme of activity that equips young creatives with tools to manage their own mental health and support others. We’re supporting young people who experience marginalisation in their everyday lives.

#LoveinMind

“We launched on the SouthBank with the #LoveInMind concert, with artists freely offering talent ‘to make a noise for mental health’.

A space for anyone in need of support

“We’re working now with Southbank Centre to offer mental health wellbeing in club nights and activities there. We were at Queer Bruk and Adonis, as part of Chaka Khan’s Meltdown in June, with two Harvey’s Space events – a space for anyone feeling unsure, or in need of support to have counselling taster sessions, find fellowship and loving support with like-minded others who put mental health care first.”

“Our work as a charity has only just begun.”