The BRIT Awards with Mastercard
The BRITs 2018 teamed up with Mind to raise awareness about mental wellbeing in schools. As the official charity partner, Mind received £250,000 to help fund their Whole School Approach programme. This programme aimed to bring mental health and wellbeing into the culture of secondary schools, reaching students, staff, parents, and the community.
The partnership also promoted the importance of mental health in the music and performing arts industries, encouraging them to fight stigma by joining the Time to Change campaign, which Mind ran with Rethink Mental Illness until it ended on 31 March 2021.
Jason Iley, Chairman BRIT Awards and Chairman and CEO, Sony Music UK and Ireland, said:
“Mind does wonderful life-saving and life-enhancing work in the field of mental health, so I’m delighted that The BRITs can contribute to their vital campaign in schools. I am thrilled that we have invested this money into such worthy causes.”
Geoff Taylor, Chief Executive BPI and BRIT Awards, said:
“One in four people are now estimated to experience mental health problems. The BRIT Awards’ donation to Mind, promoting mental wellbeing in schools and the workplace, could not be better timed.
I am delighted that we can also support the important work of The BRIT School and Music Support to encourage mental wellbeing. A further demonstration of the value of music and the profound role it can play in inspiring social change and improving people’s lives.”
Paul Farmer, former Chief Executive of Mind said:
“We are grateful to the BRIT Awards 2018 for this generous donation which will help us establish our whole school approach to mental health pilot in secondary schools. It will enable us to trial some exciting and innovative new ways of supporting the mental health and wellbeing of pupils, teachers, parents and everyone involved in school life. Many of our local Minds are already very experienced in running school programmes. We’ll be working with some of them to deliver this important pilot.
“Three children in every classroom have a diagnosable mental health problem, but many don’t seek help. We know that early and effective support makes all the difference. Without the right help, at the right time, mental health problems in childhood can have a long-lasting impact and stop young people from achieving their dreams and aspirations.
“We also know that teachers and parents are eager to learn about mental health, to be armed with advice and information and to feel more confident about having difficult conversations. By working with everyone in the school community, we know that we can come together and make a difference. This investment will be the first step in a programme that has the potential to change the lives of thousands of children, as well as equip the next generation to have the essential tools they need to stay mentally well and recover more easily from difficult life experiences.”
