About Hope-FX

Our mission

Hope-FX is a dedicated initiative created to support young people, families, and organisations in addressing mental health challenges. It was founded by Zac Holloway who has experienced mental health issues since 2019

Zac is supported by his mother Jenny Holloway (can you link this to my Linked in profile please), a social entrepreneur and the founder and current CEO of not-for-profit social enterprise Fashion-Enter Ltd (FEL), established in 2006. FEL was awarded the King’s Award for Sustainability in May 2026

FEL operates in Islington, Haringey and Leicester, serving as a centre of excellence for fashion vocational skills through FCFTA and providing vital business support for designers via Fashion Capital. The Government has rated FEL as a good training provider for their current apprenticeship provision Here you can see that FEL is the only training provider that has been rated Good on the Government website https://findapprenticeshiptraining.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/courses/359/providers?location=London%20Fields,%20Greater%20London&distance=10

Hope-FX is a support network. It does not replace any NHS or GPs advice or guidance.

It is here to support parents, educational establishments and individuals who want a have a safe and empowering space for young people struggling with mental health. We want to give a young adult a purpose to get up in the mornings and vocational fashion training is extremely therapeutic. In 2024, FEL partnered with North London NHS Foundation Trust – serving Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey, and Islington – to deliver a pioneering programme combining fashion skills with mental health support.

The program is program was ongoing teaching young adults transitioning from primary to secondary care and young adults at risk of mental health issues to design, stitch, and print their own clothes, followed by a photoshoot in central London with The Bureau. Once the garments were made they are then sold at FEL’s boutique, FC Designer Collective where there is a celebration launch where friends and family are warmly invited.

The results were transformative with 100% of participants completed the programme, gaining skills, confidence, and stability to move forward independently, without further NHS support.

Building on this success, Hope-FX is now expanding to support individuals, families, schools, and organisations through tailored programmes and workshops focused on mental health well-being and early intervention strategies.

To learn more about our programmes or how we can work with your organisation, please email hello@hope-fx.org.uk.

The Story Behind Hope-FX

Zac’s Story

I’d like to start this off by saying how grateful I am to my family and loved ones, who stood by me through the last four years. It’s been a painful journey.

First things first, drugs ruined me; without a shadow of a doubt. They brought on psychotic episodes and when I look back, I really don’t know how I am still alive.

These episodes consisted of being hyper manic and I was lost in a world that wasn’t real, but it was so real to me at the time

I had a lack of reasoning, and I was very irrational and kept seeing codes! I kept saying I’m joining the dots but it was all distorted. An example of this was when I was trying to walk to work from home in the middle of the night and then I ended up thinking I was on special maneuverers. At the time I was anxious about being late for work as there were train strikes. I was really heightened.

No comic addition, but during the journey to work in the middle of the night the police were called, and they had to deploy 8 police officers to hunt me down. I dusted 6!

I’m not glorifying anything here and running round London in the middle of the night on a freezing cold November day on to oncoming traffic just shows that someone must’ve been looking after me somewhere. On another day I’d be dead. I narrowly missed a train travelling at full speed. I had no awareness about me. Sad to say I was lost in more ways than one!

So how did this all start?

When I was a 13-year-old, I went off the rails and got into the wrong crowd and started on drugs

Testing the limits, I would steal, lie and you can guess the rest. You could argue it’s a part of growing up but it was in excess, I couldn’t stop. I started to decline. I would often say that my family were the enemy when all they were trying to do was help. I can see that now. My mum would sometimes take matters into her own hands and track me down. I was a total wild child. Nothing to be proud of – as you’ve come to find out.

The reason I’m saying all of this is to help the next man. I hope my story will encourage people to be brave enough to firstly say ‘no’ to drugs and secondly let your loved ones in. I can’t have my time again but I do wish I wasn’t so easily influenced. On another note, all these experiences have made me who I am today. I would just choose any day of the week to prevent this from happening to another pure mind.

And this is why I created Hope-FX. I know that hope gives fuel.

Jenny's story

Watching my son battle addiction, psychosis, and face multiple hospitalisations was the hardest experiences I’ve ever had to endure. As a parent, I felt helpless; lost in a system that didn’t seem to listen and desperate for answers that never came quickly enough.

In the midst of the chaos, I knew I had to do something. I decided to pursue counselling qualifications, not just to better communicate with my son, but to be the support he needed to start rebuilding his life. I have also taken a level 5 mental health wellbeing qualification to support organisations develop business plans for mental health wellbeing for staff.

Having a loved one that experiences mental health issues is a long, painful journey, but we made it through the tough times. There are still challenges but experience and having a network helps enormously.

Our values

Compassion

Every individual’s journey is unique, and we approach each person with empathy, patience, and a listening ear.

Empowerment

We empower young people and their families with tools, resources, and support to navigate life’s toughest challenges.

Community

Recovery thrives in community, and we’re committed to building a network of support that includes peers, mentors, and professionals.

Integrity

Our work is grounded in transparency and respect, ensuring everyone feels safe and valued.

Resilience

We foster resilience by helping individuals develop the skills and confidence to face difficulties head-on.

Award Recognition

In 2024, Hope-FX was selected as a finalist for the HSJ Awards under the Early Intervention and Prevention for Children, Young People, and Families Award. This prestigious nomination highlights the success of our programme in reaching young people and helping them navigate mental health challenges with the right support at the right time.

We are here for you

Don’t let drugs define you

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Hope-FX and the NHS Trusts

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