17:00, 12 January 2021
Words by Smiley Team, Staff Writer, London
We’re just over a week into the UK’s latest lockdown and mental health is becoming an increasing issue. At the forefront of the struggle against this, Mind in Dorset has announced an £80,000 funding boost thanks to their lockdown fitness challenge.
Two hundred residents across the country raised money for the mental health charity as they vowed to achieve one million steps by Christmas day, which worked out as 20,000 steps a day. Not only did this give people a focus throughout this difficult period, but it also provided valuable funds to tackle the stigma and inequalities experienced by those with mental health issues.
Among the fundraisers were Bournemouth nightclub owners, Ty Temel and Benjamin Reynolds as well as fitness coach Jamie Whisken, who raised £38,000 as part of a second fundraiser for the charity since lockdown started.
Temel said: “We created a community when people felt most isolated, a reason to get outdoors and moving and to keep physically and mentally fit. It opened up a new lifestyle balance to me that I will learn from, let alone others.
“The feedback has been heartwarming, and it was especially rewarding to see everyone getting out and enjoying the outdoors. We’re overjoyed that we could play some part in helping with mental well-being in our local community.”
The pandemic has hit the charity hard with an untimely reduction in funding flows seeing as this is when mental health services are most in-demand. In December they appealed for support, reporting retail losses of £1.5 million.
Responding to the new lockdown announcement, Dorset Mind’s chief executive, Marianne Storey said: “We will certainly see further deterioration of mental wellbeing for those already suffering or recently diagnosed - and for many others who haven’t previously experienced mental health concerns are likely to find this further lockdown during the winter months much harder than the previous two.”
To help those struggling throughout this challenging period, you can donate to Mind. With £20 you can ensure continued online support services, £40 could help run their telephone support line and £100 could cover a day of legal and informational telephone lines.
Visit their website for more information.
