Mental health charity aims to raise £5,050 to celebrate 50 years of supporting people in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire Mind Network is celebrating 50 years and to mark the occasion, they have launched a fundraising appeal, with the aim of raising £5,050 by the end of 2020.

The charity was started in 1970 by a Hemel Hempstead based primary school headteacher with a view to helping local people and their families as they believed day services for people with mental ill-health in the area were not so much scarce as non-existent.

A weekly support group commenced which proved popular and 30 people attended every week.

Fast forward 50 years and Hertfordshire Mind Network now has seven Wellbeing Centres across the county, including one in Hemel Hempstead providing a diverse range of services and support to their clients.

In 2019, they supported over 5,500 people in Hertfordshire through counselling, peer support, community support, crisis services and young peoples services.

Caroline McGoohan, community fundraising manager at Hertfordshire Mind Network said: “We are excited to be celebrating our 50th anniversary this year, however, in this current financial climate our funding is being put under enormous pressure at a time when we are seeing increased demand for our services due to the impact of COVID-19 on mental health.

"This fundraising appeal will help us continue to ensure everyone in Hertfordshire experiencing mental ill-health will get the support and respect they deserve.”

Hertfordshire Mind Network are encouraging people to raise money either through taking on a challenge, getting creative or simply making a donation – they have a host of virtual fundraising ideas and tips for getting started as well as branded t-shirts, wrist bands, bags and collection tins to help make your fundraising a success.

As independent charities local Minds including Hertfordshire Mind are responsible for their own funding. They do this through donations, grants and income from the services they provide for local councils, the NHS and private organisations.

For more information about the charity visit: www.hertfordshiremind.org.

For more information email Caroline: [email protected].

Alternatively, to make a donation to Hertfordshire Mind Network visit their fundraising page - www.justgiving.com/campaign/HMN50TH.