Rupert and Phil are both teachers. Rupert is an education business specialist experienced in developing strategy, business models, and running teams. Phil runs pastoral teams, creates safe school environments, and has an in-depth knowledge of mental health and pastoral provision within schools.

Rupert and Phil noticed the need to provide better mental health care while teaching. So many students suffer in silence, not knowing how to seek support or help themselves. 

Schools usually operate with only a bare covering of mental health support, which means students often lack access to the right kind and amount of support. Schools also need help sourcing multiple counsellors, psychologists, behaviour specialists, and therapists. They are expensive to employ and hard to find. 

The goal was to help young people access professional support by removing some of the barriers. This initial goal was the basis for the Counsel Clouds concept. 

The main benefit for schools is that they gain access to a broader range of support without restructuring the in-school pastoral systems. Existing heads of year, heads of house, etc., are still necessary as the typical in-school point of contact, but Counsel Cloud offers access to additional or more specific support when needed. Schools can adjust their subscription to suit their size, budget and level of need.