The Summit
20th May 2026
Welcome to The Summit
A year of celebration, challenge and commitment.
In 2025, our Founder, Katherine Allan, saw something everyone else had normalised. The pivotal years between the late teens and early twenties - the years when young people step into adulthood, higher education, and early careers - were exactly where support systems were thinnest. Pastoral care wasn’t proactive. It wasn’t protective. And it lacked the one thing that makes all the difference: belonging.
So she acted. Step by step, campus to campus, she crossed the country to listen, to learn, and to build what was missing: a movement committed to creating an ecosystem of care for students and graduates navigating their most defining transitions.
On 20th May, we celebrate a major milestone - Campus to Campus becoming a CIC - and the next chapter of its mission to transform the experience of young people across the UK.
This landmark day brings together:
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An exceptional keynote from Ben West, founder of Reasons to Stay, whose advocacy has reshaped the national conversation on youth mental health
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An elite panel of experts exploring the future of belonging, wellbeing and transition support
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The launch of our new research paper on the critical importance of belonging for commuter students
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A welcome from our Founder, grounding the day in purpose, action and community
YOUR TICKET INCLUDES:
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Full Access: All keynote sessions, panel discussions, and research programme launch.
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Catering: Delicious pastries, canape's and refreshments served throughout the day.
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Networking: Connect with 100+ leaders in education, mental health, and corporate sectors.
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Welcome Gift: A special thank you for every attendee.
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Your ticket fee contributes directly to supporting student mental health across the UK and specifically towards our walks, talks and research
Additional ticket types available on request:
-Research Paper: You will be directly contributing towards vital research into student mental health with our very first research programme taking place in 2026. Following the event, we will also share the full research paper with you.
-Students (please contact us to arrange a free-entry ticket) For anyone who is currently studying at a University or on an Apprenticeship.
This isn’t just an event. It’s a commitment to building the structures of belonging our young people deserve — and a call to everyone who wants to be part of lasting change.
Keynote Speaker
Ben West is one of the most engaged mental health campaigners in the UK, committed to making real change around mental health in our society. In 2018, at just 17 years old, Ben's world collapsed around him when he tragically and unexpectedly lost his brother to suicide.
The loss of Sam, aged only 15 when he died, propelled Ben to take positive action from this tragedy and concentrate his pain into a drive to campaigning around mental health awareness, suicide prevention and fundamentally changing how we approach mental health, especially in schools and the education system.
Read more about Ben's amazing story here.
"We are delighted to welcome Ben to the stage at this years summit. With such deep personal experience, a proactive attitude for change, and a vital story to share, we are honoured to bring his voice to the stage. Thank you Ben" - Katherine Allan, Founder
Our Panellists
Shoshanna Davis
Shoshanna is an Early Careers and Future of Work Expert and the Founder of Fairy Job Mother.
She started her business over her frustration at the lack of practical career support young people receive during the transition from education into work. Coming from an underrepresented background, she failed her exams, was fired from her first job and entered the working world feeling unprepared.
After working her way into global tech leadership roles in her mid-20s and seeing the same challenges repeat, she founded Fairy Job Mother to better prepare young people for the future of work and to support managers and leaders with the skills and confidence they need to lead and support early talent well.
Her work has been featured in CNBC, Business Insider, The Times, The Independent, The Metro, LinkedIn HQ and more, and she has worked with organisations including M&S, BT, Accenture and Diageo.
Peter Wood
Peter is an entrepreneur and early-careers advocate who founded The Graduate Guide, a platform and community dedicated to helping students and young graduates navigate uncertainty, build confidence, and find fulfilling career paths beyond traditional roles. Starting the project as a student himself to tackle the self-doubt and confusion many face at university, Peter has grown the platform into a vibrant space where students lead conversations, access career insights, and connect with industry leaders. His work centres on empowering young people to feel seen, supported and psychologically resilient as they transition into the world of work.
At 24, Peter's company The Graduate Guide was acquired by Apprentify - he's now on a mission to make the graduate job market a happier, more secure and prepared market.
Helen Groenendaal
Helen Groenendaal is an experienced senior strategic University leader with specialism in supporting the student journey, leading student mental health& wellbeing and experience teams.
Helen is Director of Student Life at Royal Holloway, University of London where she has worked for over twenty years contributing to the delivery of high quality, empowering and rewarding services and experiences for students – with the added experience of having completed her undergraduate degree at the University.
During her leadership the student
life teams have quadrupled in size and the Student Life Directorate is comprised of ten teams providing professional, holistic support for Royal Holloway students. This demonstrates the value the university places on a real commitment to student mental health and wellbeing. Helen seeks to lead empathetic, authentic, student-centred teams who have student voice and insight at the heart of their development, and who can be responsive to the ever-changing university and societal landscape.
Helen and her teams are proud to be associated with Campus to Campus and to have hosted the inaugural walk in May 2025 at their Egham campus and support their research projects.
Coming Soon...
We can't wait to reveal more names as they join...
