Member Article

Major fundraising boost helps create new mental health helpline

Birmingham Mind has been given a £20,000 cash injection by the Birmingham office of legal and professional services group, Gateley.

The funding will establish a new information and advice phone line for those in the Greater Birmingham area who seek assistance on a whole range of mental health issues.

Set to be launched later this year, the new information and advice line will be run by a team of people from the Beechcroft Centre, Birmingham Mind’s main hub in Erdington. Trained staff will have access to all the latest information and all calls will be treated in the strictest of confidence. It will initially be open for calls Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm.

Ruth Coates, deputy director of operations at Birmingham Mind, said: “This is a much-needed service and for the first time Birmingham Mind will be able to offer the people of Birmingham a dedicated advice and help line just for them.

“We can’t thank the team at Gateley enough for this donation, which will make such a difference to the hundreds of individuals who need access to our service. Once established, the dedicate line will immediately provide a lifeline to those in the local and wider region seeking help.”

A total of £20,000 was raised by the 600-strong team at Gateley based at One Eleven Edmund Street. Funds were raised through a number of activities including dress-down Fridays, cake sales and quiz nights amongst other things.

Ruth Armstrong, head of CSR at Gateley and national head of the company’s Regulatory team, said: “This has been a great year of fundraising for the team and it’s been a real privilege to help such an important organisation. Mental wellbeing is just as important as physical wellbeing and we need to work together to get rid of the stigma of mental illness and provide the positive support that is needed by those affected.

“The staff and team of volunteers at Birmingham Mind work tirelessly to support those living with a mental illness and to deliver vital services where they are needed the most.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jessica Guy .