TO be selected as a Sainsbury’s Local Charity of the Year once is great, but when Scottish charity, Health in Mind, were told they had been selected for a second year by the company’s Shandwick Place store, their staff and volunteers were ecstatic.
Health in Mind was nominated under the company’s Local Charity scheme and today (Monday 28 September) a member of a Health in Mind service presented Edinburgh Sainsbury’s Local manager, Rick Martin and members of his staff, with handmade, knitted nasturtium flowers, in Sainsbury’s orange.
The flowers were made by Margaret Fox who is a member of two of the charity’s projects which help people to maintain their wellness.
Health in Mind’s community fundraiser, Katherine Sellar, visited the store to pin the flowers on to Rick and his team and she explained how one in four people will experience a mental health issue in their lifetime and how the support from Sainsbury’s will make a difference to the various services provided by the charity.
Katherine continued: “Horticulture and arts and crafts can play an important role in helping people to recover and stay well.
“Each flower was made by Margaret who is a member of our *ROWAN (Respect Our Woodland And Nature) project which aims to encourage people to enjoy the benefits of being close to nature and the sense of wellbeing it offers and the arts and crafts group.
“Margaret created the special flowers and some feature little caterpillars, which in nature would, of course, become butterflies.”
Every year, Sainsbury’s customers and colleagues nominate their favourite charity under the company’s Local Charity scheme. The scheme gives customers and staff the chance to work together to support a local cause at the heart of the community over a twelve month period.
Store manager, Rick Martin, said: “Health in Mind is based a few doors along from the store so the charity is certainly local, but the partnership goes beyond raising funds; it’s about raising awareness of what the organisation does and how individuals can help through volunteering or by supporting a fundraising event.
“Last year, we supported Health in Mind by having their collection cans at our tills, taking part in their initiative during World Suicide Prevention Week by asking shoppers to take a poster for their staff notice board; staff signed up to raise funds by running in the Christmas 5K and the charity’s staff and volunteers serenaded our shoppers with carols on the run up to Christmas.”
Health in Mind helps people to live the life they want to live and services include housing for people with long term mental health conditions; a unique trauma counselling telephone service; an information resource centre; befriending services for people and a suicide prevention project for young men.
Katherine Sellar continued: “Last year, we had a brilliant year with Sainsbury’s Local and the staff and customers raised £1,671 for Health in Mind.
“We are really looking forward to working with Sainsbury’s Local over the next 12 months and my colleagues are already drawing up their Christmas Carol list and planning rehearsals!”
The charity started over 30 years ago and their ‘rising sun’ logo can be seen on the special collecting boxes at the till points.
Rick Martin concluded: “The Shandwick Place Sainsbury’s Local opened in November 2012 and since then we’ve endeavoured to vary our fundraising activities but we’d love our customers to let us have their ideas too.”
ENDS
Photo caption l to r: Jackie Fitzpatrick and Sainsbury’s Local manager, Rick Martin, Margaret Fox who made the flowers, and Health in Mind’s community fundraiser Katherine Sellar.
For further information contact Health in Mind communications manager, Doreen Graham, on 0131 243 0137 or community fundraiser, Katherine Sellar on 0131 225 8508.
Notes for editors:
* The ROWAN Project Respect Our Woodland And Nature
The ROWAN project was inspired by Branching Out. Branching Out was a joint initiative between New Caledonian Woodlands, Health in Mind’s Orchard Centre and Forestry Commission (Scotland) where members engaged in health walks, bush craft, conservation and environmental art. The ROWAN Group works with the Midlothian Rangers Service and the Forestry Commission to run the Project.
It aims to encourage its members to enjoy the benefits of being close to nature and the sense of wellbeing it offers. The project offers members a chance to participate in conserving local woodland and walkways for the benefit of the wider community. We offer health walks and an opportunity to learn about woodland skills and environmental issues.
Members can attend Branching Out activities that can lead to gaining a John Muir Discovery award and further training through rural skills training. A few of our members have recently gained these awards, so well done to them!
The project currently is involved in conservation activities with the local Ranger service at Roslin Glen, Bonnyrigg footpaths initiative, Midlothian Community Hospital Garden Project and the ‘Lost Garden’ in Penicuik.
Health in Mind was set up in the 1980s and was formally known as the Edinburgh Association for Mental Health with the aim of taking over flats which were then rented for ex-patients by the Royal Edinburgh Hospital. Today, the organisation still provides housing as well as many other services which include trauma counselling, befriending services, respite for carers, information services and community based services. The organisation delivers services on behalf of NHS health boards and some local authorities.
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Health in Mind contact details…
Contact: Doreen Graham
Phone: 01312430137
Email: doreen@health-in-mind.org.uk
Website: http://www.health-in-mind.org.uk
