Local mental health charity, Mind Jersey, has announced that Saltgate has committed £20,000 to support its work during 2020.
This significant donation will enable the charity to expand its work, bringing additional support to islanders both during the Covid-19 crisis and in the aftermath.
During these times of uncertainty and heighted anxiety Mind is adapting its services as it looks to communicate with the broader community online. With the support of Saltgate it will be able to purchase equipment to facilitate more on-line individual and multi-lateral discussions, support groups and meetings.
James Le Feuvre, Mind’s Executive Director, said: “We already know that many young people actively prefer to communicate in this way and are confident that, given time, other demographic groups might embrace this approach as well. Some may come to prefer being able to talk to someone from the privacy and security of their own home. There will always be a value in face to face dialogue but these unusual circumstances offers up new possibilities and opportunities that we are keen to embrace.
“Over the years we have established an excellent relationship with Saltgate and we are delighted to receive their support again, particularity at this difficult time when the income stream from our Nearly New shop has completely ceased and a range of other fundraising activities through the summer are in serious jeopardy.”
Hannah Culshaw, Group Chief Corporate Officer of Saltgate, said: “We understand that the charities in our communities are going to struggle more than usual to find funding at this critical time. We want to enable these charities and their networks to be able to focus on delivering their often vital and key services, and to help relieve them of the worry of how they will be funded. The volunteers and charity workers at Mind Jersey are working so hard, and we want them to know that they are acknowledged and very much appreciated.”
The impact of Covid-19 is already increasing anxiety and distress in islanders and Mind are anticipating an upsurge in people seeking support as the virus recedes.
James said: “We are already thinking about how we might meet this demand – particularly in delivering the low intensity and early interventions that we have always promoted. This approach could help a significant number of islanders better manage their own mental health and also take pressure off more specialist services which would otherwise be inundated.”
