The Sheffield Mind Ball - Local mental health charity seeks business support

8th April 2015

Come to the ball and book your next holiday! Sheffield Mind is holding its first ever fund-raising ball at Baldwin's Omega on 18th April.

There are two tables of 10 still available, at £450, so why not join us? Uriah Rennie, former Premier League referee, will be guest speaker. There will be a huge array of raffle and auction prizes, including a week in holiday homes in Cornwall, the Algarve and the Lake District, a luxury weekend in London with tickets for a performance of Mozart's Requiem, and paintings and sculptures from local artists. Join our Board We would like more commercial input to our Board. We don't have the funds or in-house expertise for sophisticated marketing campaigns, so we are looking for a business-minded trustee with marketing skills join us. Could that be you? Nominate us as your charity Sheffield Mind has provided services to support people with mental health problems for over 30 years. We help those with problems as diverse as anxiety and depression, through to bi-polar and schizophrenia, with the following range of services: Information and advice, with referral to the most appropriate service provider Counselling individual and group therapy Support for independent living Opportunities to re-engage in social contact and volunteer for work experience Help to carers of sufferers to retain or regain employment Preventative group sessions for those at risk In 2013/14 we helped around 1200 individuals in the City. But demand exceeds the supply that is possible with the funds we have, and there is a waiting list for some of our services, because the budgets of our public funders the NHS and the City Council with whom we contract to deliver services, have been increasingly shrinking. So we are hoping that we can develop long-term relationships with Sheffield companies who can help through donations as nominated charity, sponsorship and in-kind support. This could be part of companies' Corporate Social Responsibility programmes, but should also be seen as enlightened self-interest, since mental illness is a significant factor for business in Britain: -Every organisation in Britain is affected by mental distress and ill health in the workforce. At any one time, one worker in six will be experiencing depression, anxiety, or problems relating to distress.. The total cost to employers of mental health problems among their staff is estimated at nearly £26m each year (Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health, 2013). If you can come to the ball or help in any way, please contact Gill Holt, Chair of Trustees, at gillholt145@gmail.com or 0790 082 6579.