It’s the beginning of a new chapter for Olly’s Future. After founding the charity in memory of her son, Ann Feloy is handing over the reins to James Davies – the charity’s new CEO.
James comes from an impressive background in the third sector, including senior management at Shaw Trust, one of the UK’s largest charities, and experience running a mental health counselling charity. James said “I’m incredibly proud to be joining Olly’s Future as CEO. It’s a privilege to lead an organisation with such a powerful mission, and to build on the remarkable legacy Ann has created as she begins her new role as President.“
Ann said: “We’re delighted to welcome James to Olly’s Future as our new CEO. While he takes on the day to day running of the charity, I’ll be spending more time with my wonderful grandchildren, family and friends but I’m not disappearing altogether. The trustees appointed me ‘President’ to continue representing the charity, speaking at conferences and events, as well as lobbying parliament for change and funding for suicide prevention.“
Ann said she and her team were extremely grateful to Jess Estcourt (pictured right, with Ann and James), who has been the interim Deputy CEO since January, helping with governance, strategy and the entire recruitment process.
The calibre of the applicants was incredibly impressive, from this country and abroad.
Achievements
Since 2020, when Olly’s Future was founded, more than 12,000 people in the UK and abroad have undertaken its various training sessions, including ‘Talking about Suicide:10 Tools’; (co-created with Rose Rowkins) ‘CareSpace:10 Techniques for Wellbeing’ and our Mental Health Open Mic Nights.
Ann successfully campaigned to change NICE guidelines. Now, anyone under 25 should now be seen face to face when first prescribed antidepressants. The charity has held flagship annual events, such as ‘Time Together’ at St Martin-in the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, ‘Love and Light’ parties at the Century Club, Soho. It has also set up annual awards at UCL where Olly studied history and at Christ’s Hospital School, West Sussex, where he was a pupil.
Ann was given a ‘Points of Light’ award by the PM’s Office for her suicide prevention work. She also produced a book of her son’s gap year travel journals, which was the basis of an award-winning film.
She said: I am immensely proud of the legacy our dedicated team of trustees, staff and volunteers have created for my son. We are such a close group of friends, with Oliver’s ‘love and light’ guiding us on. Without his presence, we may not have lasted more than a few months, let alone six years’. Thanks to all our supporters for helping us and to James and Jess for playing such an important part in the next chapter of our tragic but also beautiful story“.
Thanks to Ann
At the charity’s AGM, Ann gave a presentation featuring some highlights and achievements over the years since Olly’s Future was founded. Trustees presented Ann with a video of thank you messages for all her incredible hard work and dedication.
