Why Not I is a mental health advocacy community dedicated to empowering individuals of all backgrounds within inner-city communities through education, inspiration, and aspiration.
Our mission is to make mental health education accessible and impactful through keynote talks, mentorship programs, community outreach events, and practical tools like guided mental health journals. By breaking down mental health barriers, we provide people with the knowledge, resilience, and support they need to live healthier, more fulfilled lives.
“The Children Were Inspired And Engrossed As Kofi Shared His Personal Journey: From A Humble Handsworth Home To International Stardom. Kofi Josephs Is A Man With A Desire To Succeed. He Has Faced Mental Issues And Is An Advocate Of Hard Work And Perseverance. As We All Know, Nothing Worth Having Is Easy To Obtain. It Takes Perseverance And Commitment."
Mrs Scarrott - Teacher at King Solomon International Business School
“Listening To Kofi Talk About His Experiences Was Truly Inspiring For Both My Personal And Professional Life. Kofi Was Able To Help The Children See That There Really Is Light At The End Of The Tunnel And That With The Right Support Anything Is Possible! I Hope He Can Work With The Hospital Again In The Future As He Had Such A Positive Impact On The Kids.”
Tamika Steadman - NHS Senior Occupational Therapist Assistant
“We Had Incredible Feedback From Both Staff And Patients On How Inspired They Felt By Kofi’s Talk, His Sharing Of His Trials Was Most Poignant And Connected Well With His Audience. The Key Take Away Was The Level Of Interaction & How Receptive The Young People Were. 100% Engagement Is Unheard Of In This Type Of Facility And The Fact That The Young People Wanted To Communicate How The Talk Had Resonated With Them Was Significant And Really Added Value To The Session. Kofi’s Contribution Added Value To Our Project And I Am Excited To See The Overall Outcome And Impact Of This Work.”
Abigail Shervington - Lead Community Engagement Manager
"Kofi was the ideal speaker to engage with our young people. He took the time to spend the entire day with us, building connections and ensuring the students felt comfortable and at ease. By the time Kofi’s session began, everyone had already interacted with him, making the session feel natural and welcoming. Integrating mental health into contemporary culture is incredibly relevant, and Kofi’s story of determination and self-acceptance is one that resonates deeply with us all."
Niall Grosvenor -Fireman & Crew Manager - Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue
“Kofi Delivered Two Excellent Sessions To Pupils. One Session Focussed On Resilience, Being The Best Person You Can Be, And How To Work As Part Of A Team Through A Basketball Session.A Range Of Pupils With Different Abilities Participated And Were Fully Engaged Throughout The Entire Session. Pupils Have Asked For Kofi To Return To DTA To Deliver More Sessions. The Second Session Focussed On How To Look After Your Mental Health. Pupils Completed A Range Of Activities In Groups And Discussed What They Can Do To Look After Their Mental Health. Pupils Were Given Information On Where They Access Support If They Feel Like They Need To Talk To Someone. The Session Was Excellent And Also Reinforced Key Areas From The PSHCE Curriculum. Feedback From All Pupils Was Positive And Again, Pupils Have Requested Kofi Returns To DTA.”
Louise Charles - Assistant Headteacher at Deans Trust Academy
“It Is Always A Pleasure Working With Kofi, He Has A Real Passion For Driving Lasting Change And Is Very Diverse In His Ability To Make Things Happen. Kofi Has Great Credibility In His Work Due To His Lived Experience And His Willingness To Talk Openly About Past Struggles Through His Sporting Journey. He Is Extremely Passionate About Mental Health And Supporting Young People As Demonstrated In His Work With “Why Not I”. Having Worked Together With Kofi On A Few Projects, I Have Always Found Him To Be Dedicated, Knowledgeable And Highly Professional. The Work Kofi Has Delivered For Us Has Been Eye-Opening, And I Have Personally Enjoyed Working With Him On Our Black History Month Campaign And Men’s Mental Health Awareness Week. He Is Incredibly Thorough In His Approach And Always Goes The Extra Mile To Deliver A Great Outcome And Ensure Everything Is Exactly As Required.”
Alfred Nelson - ED&I Manager At Basketball England
“I Thoroughly Enjoyed Bringing Kofi In To Speak To The Manchester Metropolitan Students As Part Of A Black History Month Event. He Really Tapped Into The Young Audience And Connected With Them Through Story Telling. The Students Were Inspired And Asked Lots Of Questions About Kofi’s Experiences. I Would Definitely Book Kofi As A Speaker Again As He Captivated The Room And Was Relatable, Genuine And So Flexible To Work With.”
Phoebe Blakeley- Crewe-Sports Officer Manchester Metropolitan University Students Union