PRINCE HARRY, DUKE OF SUSSEX JOINS THE DIANA AWARD AT YOUTH DISCUSSION ON HOW SOCIAL ACTION HEALS MINDS IN LONDON

The Diana Award was joined by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex as young people led a panel discussion demonstrating how their engagement in social action has positively impacted both their mental health and resilience in life.

The young people spoke to an audience of leaders and changemakers at a London event hosted by ServiceNow. The event marked one year from the launch of The Diana Award’s ‘Decade of Youth Wellbeing’, which is supported by Prince Harry.  

The youth driven discussion, chaired by Legacy Award holder Dan Lawes, a political activist and children’s rights campaigner from Manchester who is also a Trustee for The Diana Award, platformed the stories of three young people who have participated in youth-led social action alongside The Diana Award. It exhibited how social action is a high impact route to better mental health for young people. The young people include; Lottie Leach (23 yrs), Elsa Arnold (23 yrs) and Idorenyin Hope Akpan (23 yrs).  

Following the discussion, to an audience of around 40 people, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex commented on the conversations alongside a question to the young people.

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Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex said:

"Getting involved in peaceful social action takes courage and determination. Young people see the issues society faces close up — whether that’s poor mental health or the consequences of inequalities. But you don’t stand still; your empathy and compassion drive you to make change. Purpose combined with action can help overcome a sense of hopelessness, and that’s exactly what you’ve shown today.

When you spoke about how taking action gave you purpose, confidence and joy, it was more powerful than any statistic. It reminded me that agency is not a luxury for young people, it is a lifeline. My message to everyone is: don’t stand still and don’t stay silent.

My mother believed in the power and agency of young people to positively impact the world. The Diana Award continues her legacy by putting young people at the heart of everything they do. Today is a perfect example of that.

My message to everyone is don’t stand still, don’t stay silent -- make them hear you because you speak for the majority.”

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Established in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, The Diana Award has the support of both her sons, HRH The Prince of Wales and The Duke of Sussex.

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The Diana Award CEO Dr Tessy Ojo, CBE says:

"One in five young people is living with a diagnosable mental health condition, and four in ten feel powerless about their future.

The crisis is real.

This is why The Diana Award launched the Decade of Youth Wellbeing a year ago, prioritising mental health for young people globally.  When young people are trusted to lead and take action, their wellbeing rises, their resilience grows, and hope is restored.  Put simply, action heals minds."

The event has been made possible through the kind of support of ServiceNow.

Paul Fipps, President of Global Customer Operations, ServiceNow says:

"At ServiceNow, we believe that solving the world’s toughest problems takes more than technology—it takes people,"

"That’s why our partnership with The Diana Award is so meaningful. It’s how we turn belief into action—by helping the next generation lead, innovate, and shape the future we all want to see."

ENDS_  

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Further information:  Emma Pelling, 07958558172, emma@pellingpr.co.uk

About the charity – The Diana Award  
The Diana Award was set up in memory of HRH The Prince Wales and The Duke of Sussex’s mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, and her belief that young people have the power to change the world.  
The charity exists to empower young people to make positive change by unlocking potential, creating opportunities and inspiring action through four key programmes which include; a mentoring programme for young people at risk, a youth-led anti-bullying ambassadors campaign, a collaborative Changemakers programme that aims to reimagine mental health support for young people from racialised communities and a prestigious award which publicly recognises young changemakers – The Diana Award.  

About The Decade of Youth Wellbeing
The Diana Award's Decade of Youth Wellbeing is a global movement, launched with Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex at the Concordia Annual Summit in New York in September 2024, that puts young people at the centre of addressing the global mental health crisis.  The initiative, aims to empower young activists and foster lasting change over the next ten years by creating a platform for young people to drive conversations around mental health and promote wellbeing.

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES & ASSETS:  
Accessed via the following link here.
Credit for images: The Diana Award  

The footage is being made available by way of licence on condition that:  
a) The footage shall be solely for news editorial use only;  
b) No charge should be made for the supply, release or publication of the footage;  
c) There shall be no commercial use whatsoever of the footage (including any use in merchandising, advertising or any other non-editorial use);  
d) The footage must not be digitally enhanced, manipulated or modified in any manner or form and must include all the individuals in the footage when published.  

Media spokespeople:  
Dr Tessy Ojo CBE, Chief Executive, The Diana Award.    
Tessy is a passionate and practical campaigner who has gained an international reputation for fostering positive change in the lives of young people and the impact it has on communities around them. At the heart of her work is the belief that with the right support and investment, young people are the best instigators for achieving real, sustainable change in their lives, their communities and the lives of their peers.

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