£51,000 gift to mental health charity from NEC Group

It has been announced at the venue management company’s annual staff awards, that they have raised over £51,000 for Mind Birmingham.

The NEC Group extended its partnership with Mind from 2020 through to 2022 due to its venues being closed for 15 months during the pandemic. Following a steady bounce back in live events, fundraising has been able to resume in earnest.

Nic Young, NEC Group Marketing Director said: “We’ve got a strong social ethos and want to be a force for change in the communities we operate in. It has been important to us to deliver the much-needed funds we knew we could generate as a business, and we are over the moon that our CEO, Paul Thandi, was able to present a cheque for such a large amount in these current economic times.”

The Group has a strong commitment to providing mental health support and awareness in the workplace and with its millions of visitors. Proudly training 20 staff members as Mental Health First Aiders in 2022 alone, the leader in live events aims to tackle the taboo about asking for help, with staff on hand at many events to lend a caring ear.

The funds raised by staff from across the Group’s venues (NEC, ICC, Vox, Utilita Arena Birmingham, Resorts World Arena) will directly contribute to the running of Birmingham Mind’s telephone advice and information helpline, for anyone looking for support, signposting or assistance in a mental health crisis. It played an important role during the pandemic, helping people to talk through their anxieties and preventing escalation to mental health services. The helpline also continues to welcome calls from worried loved ones and professionals such as those from schools and colleges.

Ruth Coates, Deputy Director of Operations of Birmingham Mind concluded: “We would like to thank NEC Group for its fundraising efforts during this period. There is no doubt that the contributions and support from such an iconic West Midlands company will lead to many more people getting the support they need from Birmingham Mind.”

To find out more about Birmingham Mind, please visit Birmingham Mind’s website.