family-stories-4

We are changing the world, one family at a time.

 

At LOHA, we believe strong family relationships are the foundation of young people’s emotional wellbeing and mental health. Our vision is simple but powerful: to help families thrive by strengthening the bonds that support happiness, resilience, and long-term wellbeing.
 
Positive, supportive family connections don’t just benefit young people—they ripple outward, enriching communities, workplaces, and society as a whole.
 
Founded two years ago by Professor Alison Metcalfe, a leader in family health communication with over 30 years’ experience, LOHA brings together a multidisciplinary team of digital innovators, psychotherapists, and business leaders. LOHA was co-designed with families and refined through user testing during pilot phases. Our team collaborates closely with families to develop evidence-based, culturally sensitive programmes that empower parents, carers, and young people to connect, communicate, and grow together.
 
People often ask us: what does ‘LOHA’ mean? At first, it just felt like a warm welcome—like saying “hello.” But a teenager in one of our sessions suggested it should stand for Love Over Harm Always. That stuck with us, because it speaks directly to what we’re about.
 
Today, LOHA is used by families, charities, schools, and businesses that share our commitment to emotional wellbeing and stronger family connections. We look forward to working with you.
 
Alison Metcalfe
Founder / Clinical Safety Officer
Alison Metcalfe
Ros Hughes
Chief Operations Officer
Ros Headshot
Richard Moore
Chief Technology Officer
Richard Moore
Geoff O'Connell
Business Development Director
Geoff O'Connell
Penny O'Halloran
Social Marketing Lead
1725381274079

Alison is the founding director and CEO of LOHA (LOHA Health Ltd). She founded LOHA with the mission to assist parents and carers to build meaningful connection with young people, to improve teenage emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Alison is an internationally recognised academic researcher and clinician working with families for 30+years. Alison specialises in helping families communicate more effectively and manage emotional reactions with new, diverse, or challenging circumstances and experiences. The interventions Alison uses assist parents and carers to help young people develop their emotional wellbeing and prevent poor mental health. The interventions build closer connection between teenagers and their parents and carers, to increase young people’s confidence, resilience and develop the skills for understanding and managing their feelings, thoughts and behaviours.

Alison was formerly a professor at King’s College London and pro-vice Chancellor at Sheffield Hallam University.

Ros Hughes is Chief Operations Officer at LOHA and is responsible for business operations, finance and strategy. As a relatively new business her main role is to make sure the focus is always on activities that will help the business meet its key objectives, as well as the overall LOHA mission of helping support families achieve better emotional health and wellbeing.

She has worked in both the public and private sector managing a range of teams and business operations. Most recently Ros was a joint partner in an agricultural consultancy business supporting dairy farmers and the ancillary industries across the UK and Europe. She believes effective communication is at the core of developing people and empowering them to fulfil their aspirations and ambitions. This attracted her to becoming involved with LOHA and helping to develop a new approach in supporting young people and their families at a crucial time for their development.

Richard Moore is Chief Technology Officer at LOHA, and an expert in Conversational AI and the interconnection between health, wellbeing, and technology. He has published more than ten peer-reviewed journal articles and is a conference speaker on digital innovation in health and wellbeing.

Richard is a former academic who has worked on research and technology developments for organisations including Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, UK Anti-Doping, the Premier League, Sport England, the Department of Health and Social Care, and the Royal Marsden Hospital.

At LOHA, Richard oversees both the organisation’s technology infrastructure and the design and development of its novel digital platform, ensuring security, scalability, and accessibility across all services. His leadership ensures LOHA’s programmes and tools are robust, innovative, and able to meet the needs of families and health and social care partners alike.

He is the parent of two children, and much of his work has centred around improving health and wellbeing for young people.

Geoff O’Connell is the Business Development Director at LOHA, where he is responsible for building awareness, understanding, and adoption of the LOHA platform. His mission is to ensure LOHA reaches the businesses, schools, communities, families,  and especially those teenagers who it will positively impact most
 
With over 25 years of experience in various UK Healthcare Business Development and Consultancy lead roles, Geoff has a proven track record in delivering solutions that have not only reduced errors and saved money, but also preserved valuable clinical staff time, and most importantly improved the patient journey and outcomes.
 
As a father of twin teenage daughters,  Geoff is fully aware as to how easy it can be for parents to feel out of touch with the many challenges facing their teens. His work with LOHA is driven by a deep desire to bridge that gap and make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people and the communities that support them.

Penny O’Halloran is the Social Marketing Lead at LOHA and an undergraduate student at Bournemouth University, studying Psychology with Forensic Investigation. With a strong interest in mental health and wellbeing, she is passionate about understanding how psychology can be applied to support young people and families in meaningful, practical ways.

At LOHA, Penny plays a role in supporting the development of programmes and resources that help young people build resilience and manage challenges in their daily lives. She creates social media posts, newsletters, blogs and other resources helping to ensure LOHA’s content is engaging, accessible, and relevant contributing to the LOHA’s mission of strengthening family connections and promoting emotional wellbeing.

Alison Metcalfe
Founder / Clinical Safety Officer
Alison Metcalfe
Ros Hughes
Chief Operations Officer
Ros Headshot
Richard Moore
Chief Technology Officer
Richard Moore

Alison is the founding director and CEO of LOHA (LOHA Health Ltd). She founded LOHA with the mission to assist parents and carers to build meaningful connection with young people, to improve teenage emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Alison is an internationally recognised academic researcher and clinician working with families for 30+years. Alison specialises in helping families communicate more effectively and manage emotional reactions with new, diverse, or challenging circumstances and experiences. The interventions Alison uses assist parents and carers to help young people develop their emotional wellbeing and prevent poor mental health. The interventions build closer connection between teenagers and their parents and carers, to increase young people’s confidence, resilience and develop the skills for understanding and managing their feelings, thoughts and behaviours.

Alison was formerly a professor at King’s College London and pro-vice Chancellor at Sheffield Hallam University.

Ros Hughes is Chief Operations Officer at LOHA and is responsible for business operations, finance and strategy. As a relatively new business her main role is to make sure the focus is always on activities that will help the business meet its key objectives, as well as the overall LOHA mission of helping support families achieve better emotional health and wellbeing.

She has worked in both the public and private sector managing a range of teams and business operations. Most recently Ros was a joint partner in an agricultural consultancy business supporting dairy farmers and the ancillary industries across the UK and Europe. She believes effective communication is at the core of developing people and empowering them to fulfil their aspirations and ambitions. This attracted her to becoming involved with LOHA and helping to develop a new approach in supporting young people and their families at a crucial time for their development.

Richard Moore is Chief Technology Officer at LOHA, and an expert in Conversational AI and the interconnection between health, wellbeing, and technology. He has published more than ten peer-reviewed journal articles and is a conference speaker on digital innovation in health and wellbeing.

Richard is a former academic who has worked on research and technology developments for organisations including Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, UK Anti-Doping, the Premier League, Sport England, the Department of Health and Social Care, and the Royal Marsden Hospital.

At LOHA, Richard oversees both the organisation’s technology infrastructure and the design and development of its novel digital platform, ensuring security, scalability, and accessibility across all services. His leadership ensures LOHA’s programmes and tools are robust, innovative, and able to meet the needs of families and health and social care partners alike.

He is the parent of two children, and much of his work has centred around improving health and wellbeing for young people.

Geoff O'Connell
Business Development Director
Geoff O'Connell
Penny O'Halloran
Social Marketing Lead
1725381274079
Geoff O’Connell is the Business Development Director at LOHA, where he is responsible for building awareness, understanding, and adoption of the LOHA platform. His mission is to ensure LOHA reaches the businesses, schools, communities, families,  and especially those teenagers who it will positively impact most
 
With over 25 years of experience in various UK Healthcare Business Development and Consultancy lead roles, Geoff has a proven track record in delivering solutions that have not only reduced errors and saved money, but also preserved valuable clinical staff time, and most importantly improved the patient journey and outcomes.
 
As a father of twin teenage daughters,  Geoff is fully aware as to how easy it can be for parents to feel out of touch with the many challenges facing their teens. His work with LOHA is driven by a deep desire to bridge that gap and make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people and the communities that support them.

Penny O’Halloran is the Social Marketing Lead at LOHA and an undergraduate student at Bournemouth University, studying Psychology with Forensic Investigation. With a strong interest in mental health and wellbeing, she is passionate about understanding how psychology can be applied to support young people and families in meaningful, practical ways.

At LOHA, Penny plays a role in supporting the development of programmes and resources that help young people build resilience and manage challenges in their daily lives. She creates social media posts, newsletters, blogs and other resources helping to ensure LOHA’s content is engaging, accessible, and relevant contributing to the LOHA’s mission of strengthening family connections and promoting emotional wellbeing.

Alison Metcalfe
Founder / Clinical Safety Officer
Alison Metcalfe
Ros Hughes
Chief Operations Officer
Ros Headshot

Alison is the founding director and CEO of LOHA (LOHA Health Ltd). She founded LOHA with the mission to assist parents and carers to build meaningful connection with young people, to improve teenage emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Alison is an internationally recognised academic researcher and clinician working with families for 30+years. Alison specialises in helping families communicate more effectively and manage emotional reactions with new, diverse, or challenging circumstances and experiences. The interventions Alison uses assist parents and carers to help young people develop their emotional wellbeing and prevent poor mental health. The interventions build closer connection between teenagers and their parents and carers, to increase young people’s confidence, resilience and develop the skills for understanding and managing their feelings, thoughts and behaviours.

Alison was formerly a professor at King’s College London and pro-vice Chancellor at Sheffield Hallam University.

Ros Hughes is Chief Operations Officer at LOHA and is responsible for business operations, finance and strategy. As a relatively new business her main role is to make sure the focus is always on activities that will help the business meet its key objectives, as well as the overall LOHA mission of helping support families achieve better emotional health and wellbeing.

She has worked in both the public and private sector managing a range of teams and business operations. Most recently Ros was a joint partner in an agricultural consultancy business supporting dairy farmers and the ancillary industries across the UK and Europe. She believes effective communication is at the core of developing people and empowering them to fulfil their aspirations and ambitions. This attracted her to becoming involved with LOHA and helping to develop a new approach in supporting young people and their families at a crucial time for their development.

Richard Moore
Chief Technology Officer
Richard Moore
Geoff O'Connell
Business Development Director
Geoff O'Connell

Richard Moore is Chief Technology Officer at LOHA, and an expert in Conversational AI and the interconnection between health, wellbeing, and technology. He has published more than ten peer-reviewed journal articles and is a conference speaker on digital innovation in health and wellbeing.

Richard is a former academic who has worked on research and technology developments for organisations including Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, UK Anti-Doping, the Premier League, Sport England, the Department of Health and Social Care, and the Royal Marsden Hospital.

At LOHA, Richard oversees both the organisation’s technology infrastructure and the design and development of its novel digital platform, ensuring security, scalability, and accessibility across all services. His leadership ensures LOHA’s programmes and tools are robust, innovative, and able to meet the needs of families and health and social care partners alike.

He is the parent of two children, and much of his work has centred around improving health and wellbeing for young people.

Geoff O’Connell is the Business Development Director at LOHA, where he is responsible for building awareness, understanding, and adoption of the LOHA platform. His mission is to ensure LOHA reaches the businesses, schools, communities, families,  and especially those teenagers who it will positively impact most
 
With over 25 years of experience in various UK Healthcare Business Development and Consultancy lead roles, Geoff has a proven track record in delivering solutions that have not only reduced errors and saved money, but also preserved valuable clinical staff time, and most importantly improved the patient journey and outcomes.
 
As a father of twin teenage daughters,  Geoff is fully aware as to how easy it can be for parents to feel out of touch with the many challenges facing their teens. His work with LOHA is driven by a deep desire to bridge that gap and make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people and the communities that support them.
Penny O'Halloran
Social Marketing Lead
1725381274079

Penny O’Halloran is the Social Marketing Lead at LOHA and an undergraduate student at Bournemouth University, studying Psychology with Forensic Investigation. With a strong interest in mental health and wellbeing, she is passionate about understanding how psychology can be applied to support young people and families in meaningful, practical ways.

At LOHA, Penny plays a role in supporting the development of programmes and resources that help young people build resilience and manage challenges in their daily lives. She creates social media posts, newsletters, blogs and other resources helping to ensure LOHA’s content is engaging, accessible, and relevant contributing to the LOHA’s mission of strengthening family connections and promoting emotional wellbeing.

Alison Metcalfe
Founder / Clinical Safety Officer
Alison Metcalfe

Alison is the founding director and CEO of LOHA (LOHA Health Ltd). She founded LOHA with the mission to assist parents and carers to build meaningful connection with young people, to improve teenage emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Alison is an internationally recognised academic researcher and clinician working with families for 30+years. Alison specialises in helping families communicate more effectively and manage emotional reactions with new, diverse, or challenging circumstances and experiences. The interventions Alison uses assist parents and carers to help young people develop their emotional wellbeing and prevent poor mental health. The interventions build closer connection between teenagers and their parents and carers, to increase young people’s confidence, resilience and develop the skills for understanding and managing their feelings, thoughts and behaviours.

Alison was formerly a professor at King’s College London and pro-vice Chancellor at Sheffield Hallam University.

Ros Hughes
Chief Operations Officer
Ros Headshot

Ros Hughes is Chief Operations Officer at LOHA and is responsible for business operations, finance and strategy. As a relatively new business her main role is to make sure the focus is always on activities that will help the business meet its key objectives, as well as the overall LOHA mission of helping support families achieve better emotional health and wellbeing.

She has worked in both the public and private sector managing a range of teams and business operations. Most recently Ros was a joint partner in an agricultural consultancy business supporting dairy farmers and the ancillary industries across the UK and Europe. She believes effective communication is at the core of developing people and empowering them to fulfil their aspirations and ambitions. This attracted her to becoming involved with LOHA and helping to develop a new approach in supporting young people and their families at a crucial time for their development.

Richard Moore
Chief Technology Officer
Richard Moore

Richard Moore is Chief Technology Officer at LOHA, and an expert in Conversational AI and the interconnection between health, wellbeing, and technology. He has published more than ten peer-reviewed journal articles and is a conference speaker on digital innovation in health and wellbeing.

Richard is a former academic who has worked on research and technology developments for organisations including Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, UK Anti-Doping, the Premier League, Sport England, the Department of Health and Social Care, and the Royal Marsden Hospital.

At LOHA, Richard oversees both the organisation’s technology infrastructure and the design and development of its novel digital platform, ensuring security, scalability, and accessibility across all services. His leadership ensures LOHA’s programmes and tools are robust, innovative, and able to meet the needs of families and health and social care partners alike.

He is the parent of two children, and much of his work has centred around improving health and wellbeing for young people.

Geoff O'Connell
Business Development Director
Geoff O'Connell
Geoff O’Connell is the Business Development Director at LOHA, where he is responsible for building awareness, understanding, and adoption of the LOHA platform. His mission is to ensure LOHA reaches the businesses, schools, communities, families,  and especially those teenagers who it will positively impact most
 
With over 25 years of experience in various UK Healthcare Business Development and Consultancy lead roles, Geoff has a proven track record in delivering solutions that have not only reduced errors and saved money, but also preserved valuable clinical staff time, and most importantly improved the patient journey and outcomes.
 
As a father of twin teenage daughters,  Geoff is fully aware as to how easy it can be for parents to feel out of touch with the many challenges facing their teens. His work with LOHA is driven by a deep desire to bridge that gap and make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people and the communities that support them.
Penny O'Halloran
Social Marketing Lead
1725381274079

Penny O’Halloran is the Social Marketing Lead at LOHA and an undergraduate student at Bournemouth University, studying Psychology with Forensic Investigation. With a strong interest in mental health and wellbeing, she is passionate about understanding how psychology can be applied to support young people and families in meaningful, practical ways.

At LOHA, Penny plays a role in supporting the development of programmes and resources that help young people build resilience and manage challenges in their daily lives. She creates social media posts, newsletters, blogs and other resources helping to ensure LOHA’s content is engaging, accessible, and relevant contributing to the LOHA’s mission of strengthening family connections and promoting emotional wellbeing.

A Leading Voice in Family Mental Health:

Read Professor Alison Metcalfe’s Blog

Teenagers’ Connection with their Parents and Carers: Young People’s Views

Should We Have Done More? The Role of Parents in Teen Mental Health

Empathy for Teenager’s Mental Health

Einstein said, 'Insanity is doing the same thing over and over.' Discover how LOHA offers a fresh, relationship-focused approach to improve young people’s mental health.

Breaking the Downward Spiral of Poor Mental Health in Young People

Partners That Use LOHA

NHS
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Get in Touch

We’re here to help you explore how LOHA can support your family or organisation. Whether you’re curious, need guidance, or want to collaborate, we’d love to hear from you.

We aim to respond to bug reports and support requests within 48 hours.

📬 Email us at: info@loha-community.com
💬 Or fill out the form and we’ll get back to you soon.