Restart Foundation Annual Report 2024: A Year of Laying Foundations for Recovery
We are proud to share our first-ever Annual Report, covering Restart Foundation’s journey from its founding in July 2023 to the end of December 2024. This milestone document reflects the passion, resilience, and collective effort of our team, partners, and supporters — all united by a shared goal: bringing good mental health to the people of Ukraine.
A Vision Born of Urgency — and Hope
Restart Foundation was founded in response to the immense psychological impact of the war in Ukraine. From children in kindergartens to parents, teachers, veterans, and ordinary civilians — few remain untouched by trauma.
This report details how, in just 18 months, we’ve grown from a vision into a registered charity with:
- Two completed pilot mental health programmes in Kyiv kindergartens
- Two fully funded Safe Space programmes, helping 79 children and 136 adults
- A growing base of expert psychologists and interns supported with training and supervision
- Four major grants secured and strong early fundraising success
- A clear roadmap for the future
Key Highlights
✅ £31,593 raised
✅ £18,135 spent (majority on charitable activities)
✅ Zero salaried staff – all funds directed to project work
✅ 4 major grants awarded from UK trusts
✅ 3 new Patrons joined: Lord Banner KC, Rob Rinder MBE, and Robert Brinkley CMG
✅ Website launched in English and Ukrainian
✅ House of Lords launch event hosted in February 2025
Spotlight: Safe Space Programme
Our core project, the Safe Space Programme, is co-designed by one of Ukraine’s leading psychologists, Oksana Zaleska. Delivered in kindergartens in Kyiv, it brings together children, teachers, and parents in trauma-informed group sessions that rebuild trust, expression, and resilience.
In 2024 alone, the programme helped:
- 102 children
- 190 parents and teachers
- 7 psychology interns, who now carry this knowledge forward
What’s Next
In 2025 and beyond, we plan to:
- Expand Safe Space across more early years centres in Ukraine
- Launch veteran mental health programmes using advanced technologies
- Build out our support and training hub for Ukrainian psychologists
- Grow our base of monthly supporters through the “Circle of Founders” initiative
Download the 2024 Annual Report (PDF)
We thank every donor, partner, and supporter who has walked with us through this first year. With your help, we’re not just responding to trauma — we’re building long-term systems of healing for Ukraine’s future.
