The Big Give Christmas Challenge 2011
Thank you for your generous support.
Thanks to the generosity of our wonderful supporters, we raised £13,655 during the Big Give week, 5-9 December 2011.
We’d like to say a big thank you to everyone that donated.
There were some technical problems with the Big Give website and the Challenge paused unexpectedly early every day of Challenge Week.
So thank you for your patience if you did have trouble making a donation.
The website is still open and accepting donations, although the matched funding has run out and they will no longer be doubled.
How your donations will be spent
you already know that mental health problems, like depression or anxiety, can ruin lives. That’s why services that are available locally, to anyone who needs them, are so important.
But because of spending cuts and the economic downturn, many local mental health services, like our counselling and advice services, are under threat.
Our network of 169 local Minds means that wherever you live, there’s a local Mind close by offering help and services such as counselling, training and employment schemes, housing advice, exercise groups and art therapy.
Last year local Minds improved the lives of 280,000 people.
However, local Minds are under serious threat as a result of government cuts of over £4 million, combined with greater levels of demand as more people are affected by the recession.
People who need help are waiting too long or simply aren’t receiving it. Without financial assistance, many much needed local mental health services will be lost.
That is why this year we are raising money for our local Minds grant fund.
This Christmas the money from the Big Give will provide funding for 5 local projects.
Funding applications have been submitted and are currently being appraised, but we will let you know which projects your donation has funded soon.
Counselling in Milton Keynes
Your support this Christmas could go towards projects such as the counselling service at the local Mind in Milton Keynes.
They recently delivered courses to 80 individuals to improve their wellbeing, equipping them with skills and helping them to lead more positive lives with brighter futures.
After attending the course, people reported that their home lives were better, their families were happier and their relationships were stronger. Paul told us:
[It was] one of the best things I have done. It made me change my life.
Support Café - Mind in Telford
With funding from supporters like you, last year Mind in Telford opened their Support Café. It's a training kitchen and café area (they converted a disused dining room).
The Support Café acts as a social enterprise offering kitchen and café skills training, cookery lessons, whilst also supplying healthy fresh food and a space for trained listeners to support people who need someone to talk to.
I still can’t believe I’ve had this opportunity. It’s everything I dreamt of. I can support so many others now. And the support I get is tremendous. I love my life now.- James, Chef*
I didn’t know I could bake bread. I didn’t know I could be involved in anything like this. I feel completely different about myself now. - Andrea*
How you can help
- Donate now
- Share this page with your friends and family
*Not their real names