2020 NEC Group charitable donations to fund Birmingham Mind advice and information line
20 January 2020The NEC Group has announced that its fundraising efforts for 2020, will directly contribute to the running of Birmingham Mind’s telephone advice and information line, for anyone looking for support, signposting or assistance in a mental health crisis.
The phone line for the Group’s newly announced Charity of the Year, is located in Erdington alongside Mind’s existing Crisis Café provision.
The phone line offers telephone support to those in need, their friends and family, seeking wellbeing support and advice. However, to operate this new service is costly, at a rate of £36 per hour for a Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm provision. Birmingham Mind is keen to extend this service, to offer telephone support throughout the evening. The charity currently supports over 5000 people in Birmingham, but its keen to reach as many people as possible across the city.
The Group’s announcement comes as it kick starts its fundraising efforts for the year, by taking part in the ‘This is Me West Midlands’ campaign. The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has been rallying the region to turn #BlueMondayGreen today (Monday 20th January), which is claimed to be one of the most depressing days of the year.
The NEC, Resorts World Arena and Arena Birmingham (soon to be named Utilita Arena Birmingham) will all be lighting up in green alongside several other venues in the city. NEC Group office staff will also be wearing green in return for a donation to Birmingham Mind in support of this positive campaign for change.
Paul Thandi, NEC Group CEO, said: “Our staff do such an excellent job of getting behind our charity fundraising and I’m extremely pleased that our charity of the year for 2020 will be Birmingham Mind. This is another amazing cause, providing advice and support on mental health.
“Across the NEC Group, we have been doing some great activity to help promote wellbeing and raise awareness for mental health issues. Birmingham Mind charity is a great fit for this work, and I’m delighted that we will be working with them in 2020.”
Ruth Coates, Deputy Director of Operations of Birmingham Mind added: “We are extremely excited to have been chosen as Charity of the Year by the NEC Group and we look forward to working closely together, to help us to deliver vital support to the citizens of Birmingham, in order to create more opportunities and a better understanding of mental health.”
Show your support for the ‘This is Me West Midlands’ campaign on social: #BlueMondayGreen #SeenInGreen #EndTheStigma
To find out more about Birmingham Mind, please visit Birmingham Mind’s website.