A woman with long blonde hair wearing a black top sits in a room with maps on the wall behind her.

Our story

One-Eighty began in 2010, when our founder, Susie Besant, was working in Oxfordshire’s Youth Offending Service. Through this work, she saw how many young people were reaching crisis point long before they received support. Susie observed how early, targeted intervention could prevent escalation into acute mental health challenges, school exclusion, or involvement in the criminal justice system.

When funding cuts brought that preventative work to an end, Susie established One-Eighty with an ambition to offer young people the vital services and support she knew made a difference.
What started in a community centre with a small group of volunteers has grown steadily for over 15 years. Over time, One-Eighty developed a therapeutic framework that remains central to our work today: evidence-based, psychologically informed, and adaptable to the individual needs of each young person.

We’re now a team of 40 staff, working across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, and we’ve supported more than 3,500 young people to overcome barriers, re-engage with education, and improve their wellbeing.
Our approach is practical, persistent, and grounded in understanding the challenges young people face, offering tools and strategies to support with long-term sustainable outcomes.

Our aim is simple: to ensure young people, and their families, receive the right support, at the right time, so they can move forward with greater stability and opportunity.

Timeline

2011

First One-to-One intervention delivered

Our first intensive One-to-One intervention supported a child with social care involvement who had been described as “having no hope” after many professionals had been unable to engage him. Through tailored support, we helped him return to school on a part-time timetable and supported the family.

2012

Make Me Smile project launched

Our first preventative mental health project, Make Me Smile, is launched to support children and young people earlier, supported through our first ‘Big Lottery’ funding award.

2015

One-Eighty expands into Buckinghamshire

One-Eighty extends its reach into Buckinghamshire, delivering its first one-to-one intervention in the county

2017

OCVA Oxfordshire Charity of the Year

One-Eighty is named Oxfordshire Charity of the Year by Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action (OCVA), recognising our impact supporting children and young people across the county.rn

2019

First Schools Partnership launched

One-Eighty develops its first formal Schools Partnership, creating a structured, collaborative approach to delivering targeted mental health support within a school.

2021

Appointment to Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children’s Board

One-Eighty is appointed to the OSCB, voted in by the voluntary and community sector to represent the voice of charities and community groups across Oxfordshire.

2023

High Sheriff Award

Susie is awarded a High Sheriff Award in recognition of her outstanding contribution to supporting young people in the community.

2023

First Angels Den Award win

One-Eighty wins its first Angels Den Award in Buckinghamshire, providing funding to expand our support for children and young people across the county.rn

2024

Formal Recognition for Safeguarding & Partnership Working

One-Eighty is formally recognised by the Interim Director of Children’s Services for its significant partnership working and safeguarding contributions, delivered through a multi-agency approach that led to positive outcomes for a family.

2024

Centre for Social Justice award winner

One-Eighty was recognised nationally with an award from the Centre for Social Justice for its work supporting “ghost children”, those young people slipping through the net without access to support.rn

2025

One-Eighty bus launches

One-Eighty wins the Brand the Bus award and launches the One-Eighty bus on the streets of Oxford.

2025

Oxfordshire Business Awards – Overall Winner & Employer of the Year

One-Eighty is named Employer of the Year and Overall Winner at the Oxfordshire Business Awards, recognising both our workplace culture and the impact of our work.

2026

Buckinghamshire office opens

Our Buckinghamshire office officially opens, strengthening our local presence and reach.

Testimonials

This project has helped my daughter mix with other children. She is still shy and anxious, but the experience has helped build her confidence.

Summer Project Pupils

The highlight of my summer was feeling proud of myself for going on the trips and using my voice to ask new adults for help and make friends. I feel much more confident for secondary school and how to approach adults if I need to.

Summer Project Pupils

If it wasn’t for One-Eighty I truly believe he still wouldn’t be attending school. His future is now bright.

Carer

Lots of people have been using the worry box and we like checking this during break times. It helps people to feel more comfortable talking about their feelings and making it more normal.

Mental Health Ambassadors

Make Me Smile helped me learn more about worries, which I needed, as I have been through a lot with the loss of my sister recently.”

Mental Health Ambassadors

It teaches you about mental health. It’s important to share it around so that others can understand it too.

Mental Health Ambassadors

I learnt not to care what others think about me, I am enough

Year 6

I’ve learnt not to bottle up my emotions and I’ve liked being able to talk about how I feel.

Year 5

I used the hand breathing when I felt nervous and it helped me to feel calmer.

Year 3

My parents are getting a divorce, Kick Start has been the only thing to make me feel happy and want to go to school.

Year 4

I don’t know where we would have turned without One-Eighty, there is no alternative, no other options, there would have been no support.

Headteacher of a Partnership School

One-Eighty were able to make progress with a student that had not been in education for three years. They were able to make progress and hand over the student in a more positive position than when they started.

Oxford Professional

News & Stories

Noah’s Story: Reconnecting with Education and a Sense of Belonging

Noah has diagnoses of ASD and ADHD. He often struggles to communicate verbally, particularly when he feels uncomfortable.  By the time he met One Eighty, he…

Jacob’s story: From Isolation to Independence and a Bright Future, with a Trauma-Informed Approach

Jacob is a young man who has experienced severe anxiety and emotionally-based school avoidance. So much so that by the time Jacob was 16 years old,…

Creating a Legacy of Openness and Emotional Resilience in the School Community

Teaching staff at a primary school in Oxfordshire were seeing increasing signs of emotional distress, anxiety, and behavioural challenges across their Year 6 class. Many pupils…