She gained first-hand insight into the gaps in support for young people, especially those with autism and mental health challenges.

“This experience became the catalyst for my charity. I saw the urgent need for more compassionate, accessible and tailored services, and I was driven to create something that could fill that void,” she said. 

A significant turning point

Before winning the Innovate UK Young Innovators Award, 21-year-old ZeZe’s idea was still in its early stages.

“The Innovate UK funding marked a significant turning point. It enabled the transition from idea to impact, provided the resources to expand, and laid the foundation for sustainable growth in supporting youth mental health and autism,” ZeZe said.

During the programme, ZeZe developed her concept, researched best practices, and identified areas where the charity could make the most impact. The funding also allowed her to start building the specialised team that she needed.

“With the increased funding, we were able to assemble a skilled and passionate team of mental health professionals, autism specialists and operational staff. This ensures that the charity has the expertise required to deliver impactful services,” she explained.

Piloting with NHS England

A major milestone of the programme was procuring an NHS England contract worth £163,000 as a pilot project. ZeZe also started a peer support programme that includes a team of seven workers and launched an advisory group.

“We started our Youth Lived Experience Advisory Group with 15 autistic young people who have mental health needs and emotion dysregulation. We’ve created a partnership with the West Midlands Police Commission as part of this, who are releasing additional funds to continue the group to train future police officers in autism,” she said.

Now, ZeZe is turning her attention toward scaling up and becoming financially sustainable. Once the pilot project ends in 2025, she plans to procure a contract with East Midlands and North London and grow the team to 10 full-time workers.

Growing into a confident, award-winning leader

ZeZe credits the Young Innovators Award with playing a crucial role in her growth as a leader:

“The programme provided a structure for learning and development that helped me evolve from someone with a vision into a more strategic, confident leader. It challenged me to think beyond the initial concept, focusing on scaling, sustainability and measurable impact.”

The financial support also enabled ZeZe to work two days a week on the charity, as well as invest in marketing and pay legal experts to set up appropriate governance. This has given the charity the credibility needed to build trust with stakeholders and operate in a secure, ethical framework.

The Innovate UK funding was transformational. Without it, we would not be helping young people the way we are today.

ZeZe’s success is evident in the number of prestigious awards she has received since winning the Award.

“As a result of the Innovate UK support, I have gone on to win a Prime Minister’s Points of Light award, the Diana Legacy Award, Inspirational Youth Award, Young Global Changemaker Award, and a People’s Choice Award within the National Autism and Learning Disability Awards. I have also attended parliament five times in the last year to do campaign work.”

Unwavering mentor support

The programme’s business coaching was another key highlight, empowering ZeZe to set out goals and take the business from an idea to a working charity.

“My mentor, Rachel, was absolutely incredible. Her expertise in director road mapping has been instrumental in shaping the future of our organisation. Her insight, dedication and unwavering support have not only strengthened our leadership but empowered our charity to scale our services and better support youth mental health and autism,” she said.

ZeZe’s journey highlights the importance of taking bold steps in innovation, regardless of the programme or path you choose.  “Young Innovators is a competitive programme, but I would urge you to feel the fear and do it anyway. Define your innovation and tell the story of why you are the right person to do it. Innovate UK will elevate your business.”