LocatED has confirmed its support for mental health charity, YoungMinds, for a second year following an all-employee vote.

YoungMinds wants to see a world where no young person feels alone with their mental health, and seeks to prevent an individual’s mental health need becoming a crisis.

Awareness of the important issue at LocatED has grown significantly following the recent government report on tackling loneliness and LocatED’s own research with UCL which came about as a result of the Children’s Commissioners report, The Big Answer. As you would expect, there has been extensive learning by staff over the last 12 months about the work of YoungMinds too.

With a fundraising target of £1,000 beaten within the first six months of the year, the organising committee stepped up its efforts with a quiz night and team socials raising over £400 each.

The final fundraising effort was by Design Lead Sam Grainge, who ran the Hasting Half Marathon on 26 March to raise money for YoungMinds. Refusing to be beaten by a bout of Covid in the lead up, Sam donned the YoungMinds yellow jersey and battled through the race in just under two hours to raise £287.

LocatED Chief Executive Lara Newman said, “As an organisation, we have done a lot of work to better understand mental health challenges for young people and we are passionate about the issue. From half marathons and Secret Santas to tombolas and quiz nights, everyone from across the business got behind this important cause to make a difference. Together, we raised £3,276 from a whole range of activities – enough to help more than 50 parents and carers get the advice and support to improve their child’s mental health.”

Throughout the 2023-24 financial year, employee-led fundraising activities will again help the fight for children and young people’s mental health.

For more information on YoungMinds and how too can support the charity, visit the website www.YoungMinds.org.uk.