Thelma Matilda Alves Foundation

UK-based mental health charity committed to safeguarding, supporting, and enriching the mental and emotional wellness of Black women.

Vintage black and white photo of a woman sitting in a striped chair, holding a rotary telephone to her ear, next to a floral arrangement and a decorative metal staircase in the background.

Launched in April 2020, the Thelma Matilda Alves Foundation is devoted to empowering women of African and Caribbean descent on their mental health and wellbeing paths.

The inception of the Thelma Matilda Alves Foundation traces back to the discerning observations of our founder, who noticed disparities in mental health treatment between herself and her white female friends. While her friends were offered a spectrum of mental health interventions, including funded counselling, cognitive-behavioural therapy, and medication, she was prescribed a high dosage of antidepressants despite expressing suicidal thoughts. This stark contrast in treatment experiences within the NHS prompted her to delve into the research and explore the landscape of black women's mental health in the UK.

 Her investigation illuminated a significant issue: black women were disproportionately impacted by mental health challenges yet were not receiving the requisite quality of care. The Thelma Matilda Alves Foundation was born out of the commitment to address these disparities and ensure equitable mental health support for minority women in the UK.

How we support Black women

Two women sitting on a couch in a bright room, having a conversation. One woman is wearing a patterned blouse with pearls, and the other is holding a smartphone, wearing glasses and a pink blazer.

Counselling Sponsorship Scheme

People seated in a large indoor space with string lights and bright yellow walls, listening to a person standing in front speaking.

Events

Close-up of an open notebook with handwritten notes and a black and silver fountain pen resting on it.

Resources

Make a donation.

Empower Black women's mental health with your generosity. Your donation fuels our mission to provide essential resources, support, and advocacy. Together, let's build a community where every Black woman can thrive emotionally, unapologetically, and with unwavering strength.

Two women sitting on a pink couch, one holding a microphone, in front of a large colorful poster featuring several women and the date 18th October with time 6:30-9:30 pm.
A woman with dreadlocks singing into a microphone at a dinner party, sitting on a red velvet chair with a glass of drink in front of her, in a warmly-lit room decorated with wall art.

Contact Us