As lumin&us® Co-founder and Co-CEO, Lisa Merryweather-Millard has recently been named one of the top 50 women in UK innovation as a result of her work on the lumin&us® app to transform children’s mental health through play-based technology.
About the Innovate UK awards
The Innovate UK Women in Innovation Awards celebrate 50 women leading the charge in groundbreaking industries – from revolutionary peat-free farming solutions, to continuous green electricity, to an AI-powered platform that streamlines allergy management in schools.
Leading innovation with lumin&us®
The digital app lumin&us harnesses neuroscience and play therapy to support children’s mental health. Lisa’s journey from educator to innovator began during 16 years in teaching, where she discovered children’s attainment and achievement were positive byproducts of good mental and emotional health. When COVID-19 left families unable to access therapeutic support, she partnered with social worker and Beacon Family Services Co-founder Charlotte Jenkins to create digital mental health resources.
The children’s mental health crisis is severe in the UK, with over 20% of children and young people having a probable mental health disorder – and it costs families, businesses and government over £300 billion annually. lumin&us addresses this through professionally curated games and activities to help parents and children understand the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.
Lisa says:
The only way we can ensure every child has access to good mental health and wellbeing support is to ensure every parent and carer has the skills to provide it.
I’m delighted that my work in early and preventative children’s mental health and wellbeing through our lumin&us App has been recognised by Innovate UK with a national Women in Innovation award alongside 49 other innovative and inspiring women who are driving global change.
For those of us who zag when others zig, who’ve refused to accept the status quo, who’ve been driven to be better via a barrage of ‘No’s’ – I’m thinking of you today. And to the little girl I once was who was laughed at for wanting to make the world a better place, well done – you’re doing it!