Oganisations and community groupings (such as schools, businesses, church groups or social clubs) as well as individuals can also ‘sign up’ to show their support for MindWise and help raise funds for us. Your organisation, school or grouping may want to consider choosing MindWise as your ‘Charity of the Year’ partner. Throughout the partnership you can then help MindWise to raise funds and awareness of mental illness by working with us to organise fundraising/awareness events in your setting. One on four people living in Northern Ireland will be experiencing some form of mental illness at any one time, so it is highly likely that in your workplace, church, school or social club someone will have direct experience. With your help we can reach all those that need our help and break-down the stigma that surrounds mental illness.

As well as helping us, a charity partnership will also be of benefit to your staff/members as throughout the partnership awareness of contributors to the onset of a mental illness among your staff/members will grow and they will also benefit from a sense of well-being knowing that they have helped to make a real difference to the lives of some of society’s most vulnerable and often unsupported individuals.

Case Study: Newtownabbey Borough Council

When Alderman John Scott was elected as Mayor of Newtownabbey Borough Council in June 2009, he decided to choose MindWise as one of his nominated charities. The Mayor initially became aware of the work of MindWise when he attended an event to re-launch the Ballyclare Community Resource Service in May 2009. After spending time meeting with staff and service users and hearing about the various types of support MindWise offers to both service users and carers, the mayor decided that during his term he would do all he could to promote the work of the charity and the issue of mental illness.

Mayor Scott has said that throughout his term, he will lend his support in many ways to help raise funds including Christmas collections at Northcott and Abbeycentre Shopping Centres and by hosting a charity Golf Day.

If you would like to know more about the Mayor’s chosen charities and Newtownabbey Borough Council, please visit http://www.newtownabbey.gov.uk