The RookMay Foundation was established by three dedicated leaders: May Ladd, Founder and Chair; Amit Mehta, Treasurer; and Chirag Patel, Secretary. Together, they work to advance mental health initiatives and bring positive change across the UK and globally.
May Ladd, Founder and Chair (Right), Amit Mehta (Left) and Chirag Patel (Middle)
May Ladd, founder and chair of The RookMay Foundation, established the charity in 2024 following his own personal struggles with mental health. His journey serves as the driving force behind the foundation’s mission to support others facing similar challenges.
May’s resilience and determination to turn his struggles into a source of inspiration are at the heart of The RookMay Foundation’s mission to improve mental health services and support across the UK and globally.
Chair
Treasurer
Secretary
Ambassador
Wellness Advisor
Wellness Advisor
Support Team
Support Team
Trustee
Wellness Advisor
The RookMay Foundation is a UK-based charity dedicated to improving mental health services and support across the country. Established in 2024, the foundation is committed to making a positive impact through donations, advisory services, and technology-driven initiatives.
Through this structure, the RookMay Foundation can focus on supporting mental health initiatives and making a lasting difference in the lives of those affected by mental health challenges.
Solved Marketing, a highly respected web design and digital marketing agency, generously built The RookMay Foundation website free of charge. Their expertise and support have been invaluable in helping us reach more people and promote mental health initiatives. Learn more about them here.
May Ladd was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire (UK).
During his school days, May suffered terrible severe migraine headaches that meant he had to vomit, avoid lighted areas and sleep quickly – this went on for years and doctors could not understand the reasons behind it.
After several years the frequency of the migraines slowed and eventually stopped by itself.
Fast forward to 2020, May was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and spent a number of years in and out of hospitals.
Today, May is managing his mental health through daily routine, exercise, reading, travelling, spending time with family & friends and working on his business interests and charitable causes.
Amit Mehta started his business career at Fortune 500 company Avery Dennison, quickly rising through the ranks to become a senior executive reporting directly to the CFO. Ten years at the company taught him a huge amount about what makes a successful enterprise tick, experience he then employed when setting off to try his hand at businesses of his own. Amit successfully built and grew two private equity-backed businesses, learning more about how to manage different teams, understand customer needs and to always aim to exceed expectations.
With a young family in tow, Amit soon started looking for a new opportunity relevant to his changing lifestyle – something that would allow him to give back to the community and give him a greater sense of personal satisfaction.
Since founding the Inspired Learning Group in 2014 he has expanded the group’s portfolios of schools.
ILG is now Amit’s main passion and being able to apply his business acumen to education is something that energises him every day. He loves working with children, teachers and parents to improve the quality of education, boost local communities and make a real difference to the lives of so many young children.
Chirag Patel was born in Islington. North London. He grew up in Battersea the son of a shop keeper.
At 26 he married his university sweetheart and planned on starting a family. Soon after marriage his wife developed serious OCD. She developed a germ phobia which seriously affected her ability to function normally on a day-to- day basis.
Because of the shame that his wife felt of having this condition Chirag was forced by her to keep everything secret which after years of being a sole carer led to him experiencing depression.
Eventually they managed to get help and she stared to undertake CBT (Cognitive behaviour Therapy). Unfortunately, the marriage did not last.
Today Chirag runs a small business in Battersea. He has a partner and an 11-year-old son who is his main focus in life.
I had the pleasure of working with May on a data privacy programme some 15 years ago and we have remained in touch since then. He was not only highly professional and extremely capable; he was also able to get things done.
I was fortunate to have had a strong career in board-level programme direction, living and working in countries across Europe and the Far East. I am grateful to have experienced happier times. Three years ago, I was confronted with a number of challenges. My son, aged 37 and a father to his daughter Isla, sadly took his own life. The grief I was experiencing at the time led to a number of unexpected health issues, including a stroke, a heart attack at work and then retinopathy, which has had an impact on my eyesight.
My mental health was affected, and I decided to take a step back from the boardroom. I am honoured to accept the role of Ambassador for the RookMay Foundation. The work that May and his team do is of great importance. He has a deep understanding of the challenges that mental health can present and has the determination and skill to make a real difference.
Oyu was born in Mongolia and lived half of her life in Belgium. She is Certified Co-active Coach, Mindful Living Coach, and Yoga Teacher based in London, UK. She has recently completed a professional training in Compassionate Inquiry, a trauma-informed psychotherapeutic approach developed by Dr. Gabor Maté.
With over seven years of coaching experience, and her recent role as a Mental Health Recovery Worker, emphasizes the importance of meaningful support in mental health recovery.
She advocates for a trauma-informed approach in therapy, recognizing that addressing trauma is essential for effective treatment. Without this focus, traditional talking therapies may fall short in facilitating genuine healing. Oyu'scommitment to integrating trauma awareness into mental health care reflects a growing understanding of the complexities involved in recovery, ultimately aiming to enhance the lives of those she supports.
At the core of Oyu's practice is a holistic, trauma-informed coaching approach that prioritizes individual growth and well-being. Oyu's diverse skill set, which includes mindfulness practices and yoga, empowers individuals to reconnect with their authentic selves. By integrating her knowledge of trauma-informed practices with her commitment to mindfulness, she provides a transformative coaching experience that inspires lasting change.
Basha was born in Poland and moved to London, UK.
Basha has a great interest in wellness and natural remedies. She likes helping and motivating people to implement positive changes in their lifestyle.
Her work is her passion, so everything she does within her work is done with love. Basha runs her own wellness, natural remedies and massage business covering all areas of London.
I have been diagnosed with ADHD and Dyslexia. Every challenge life throws my way requires immense effort.
Life has always been a struggle; throughout my school years, I dealt with significant self-doubt and self-criticism. Learning difficulties, a lack of focus, and challenges in moving forward have been constant hurdles.
Despite these challenges, I was an ambitious child who always wanted to do better. I often wonder where I would be now if I had received the right mental support. My life is all about well-being and finding new ways to help myself, my mind, and my clients feel at peace.
Yining Shen is a seasoned professional with a diverse background in fintech, government, and investment sectors. She has held senior roles, including Senior Product and Strategy at Fintech Unicorn Revolut and Head of Fintech at the UK Department of Business and Trade.
Yining's expertise also includes digital assets, where she has worked as a Digital Asset Consultant at several VC capitals.
She holds an MSc in Financial Computing from University College London (UCL).
Yining is passionate about mental health and is committed to supporting UK Mental Health Charities as a dedicated volunteer.
A dedicated professional with a robust educational background in IT coupled with a diverse professional experiences across the UK and Tunisia. I hold a bachelor’s degree in IT Management from Tunisia.
Proven track records as a Commercial coordinator role in Tunisia. An order expeditor work experience with Electro rent corporation in the UK. A healthcare assistant with Bart’s Health NHS Trust in the UK and complemented by a deep interest in psychology.
I have passion for commitment to mental health support. I am adept at navigating complex environments and am motivated by opportunities to support and enhance wellbeing through both professional and volunteering efforts.
I am excited to introduce myself as a Trustee for fundraising of the charity. With over 15 Years experience across charity fundraising and seven years previously as the Head Trustee for the Leeds United Foundations fundraising department, I bring a wealth of experience to support our future fundraising efforts.
My journey has been fuelled by a passion for making a real difference. At the Leeds United Foundation, I led many impactful initiatives creating opportunities and fostering community spirit, I'm eager to bring the same energy and dedication to the RookMay Foundation, ensuring we deliver on our mission.
My name is Hansa Varsani. I am a British Indian citizen, who came to UK in the 1970's, now living in London.
My upbringing included many forms of childhood trauma. This had a profound effect on me and I had low self-worth for several years. Despite this my determination and resilience led me to have a successful career in banking and finance. This built my confidence both personally and socially. Following early retirement, I become a Certified Life Coach Level 5, so that I could support others in their personal growth & mental wellness journeys.
I now engage in Counselling, NLP, Hypnosis, Mentoring, Mindfulness & Meditation, and draw upon my own life experience. By using the tools I used to heal myself and my own personal experience, I am able to understand and connect with clients, offering my support and services with compassion and purpose.
For further enquiries or to book a free Consultation Session, please contact me on +44 (0)795 639 2254.