M&S and YoungMinds Launch Design Competition to Raise Mental Health Awareness Through Hello Yellow Collection

M&S and YoungMinds Launch Design Competition to Raise Mental Health Awareness Through Hello Yellow Collection

(IN BRIEF) Marks & Spencer (M&S) and YoungMinds have launched a competition for young people across the UK to design a sweatshirt or hoodie for the 2025 Hello Yellow kidswear collection. This initiative, which coincides with World Mental Health Day, aims to raise awareness around mental health and provide funding to YoungMinds’ programs. The competition offers two age categories, with winners receiving exclusive access to the design process and the opportunity to see their creations featured in M&S stores, with all profits going to YoungMinds. This initiative is part of M&S’s broader £5 million fundraising goal to support mental health resources for young people and their families.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 4-Feb-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Marks & Spencer (M&S) and YoungMinds have unveiled an exciting competition inviting young people to design a sweatshirt or hoodie for this year’s M&S and YoungMinds Hello Yellow kidswear collection. The Hello Yellow initiative, which coincides with World Mental Health Day on October 10th, aims to raise awareness around mental health by encouraging individuals to wear yellow to show solidarity with young people facing mental health challenges.

As part of the competition, M&S and YoungMinds are calling on young designers across the UK to create inspiring and meaningful designs that will be featured in the 2025 Hello Yellow collection. The competition is open to two age categories: 5-11 and 12-16 years old, with one winner chosen from each category. The winners will receive exclusive behind-the-scenes access to see their designs come to life, visiting M&S’s support centre in London and the supplier factory in the Midlands. Their designs will be printed on garments sold in M&S stores and online, with all profits going to support YoungMinds’ mental health initiatives.

The winner will also be gifted enough sweatshirts or hoodies featuring their design to distribute to their classmates for Hello Yellow. This initiative is part of M&S’s ongoing partnership with YoungMinds, through which the retailer has already raised over £3 million to support young people’s mental health. M&S has set a goal of raising £5 million by 2026 to help expand YoungMinds’ reach and resources, aiming to support seven million young people and their families.

Research shows that mental health concerns are on the rise among young people, with five students in every classroom likely to face a mental health condition. Despite these challenges, many young people are reluctant to seek help, with 65% not having requested any formal support. Through the Hello Yellow campaign and this design competition, M&S and YoungMinds aim to provide young people with the reassurance that support is available and that they are not alone in their struggles.

Victoria McKenzie-Gould, Corporate Affairs Director at M&S, expressed pride in the partnership’s impact, saying, “With the tremendous support from our colleagues and customers, we’ve raised over £3 million to help support young people’s mental health. This design competition, launched during Children’s Mental Health Week, will help raise awareness and show young people that they are never alone and there is support available when they need it most.”

Laura Bunt, Chief Executive of YoungMinds, added, “Through this competition and the support from M&S, we’re working to show young people that they are not alone with their mental health. We hope the designs inspire many young people to get involved and make this Hello Yellow our biggest campaign yet.”

Rochelle Humes, M&S x YoungMinds Partnership Ambassador, said, “I’m so excited about this competition. It’s a wonderful reminder that one small action, like a thoughtful message or design, can make a real difference. I encourage young people to take part – your creativity could be seen by millions and will raise vital funds for YoungMinds.”

Media Contact:

M&S Corporate Press Office
+44 (0)20 8718 1919
corporate.press@marks-and-spencer.com

SOURCE: Marks & Spencer