FCHO gives £15k to mental health charity

DONATION . . . At the cheque presentation are (front, from left) Jenny Robinson of MIND and Cath Green, FCHO chief executive

A MENTAL health charity is celebrating after it received £15,000 to launch a pilot scheme in Oldham.

The donation to Tameside, Oldham and Glossop Mind (TOG Mind) will enable the charity to expand its support for individuals to families as well.

First Choice Homes Oldham, which chose Mind as its 2016 Charity of the Year, has been busy fundraising for Mind since last April.

Baking competitions, raffles, a sponsored head shave, canal walk and skydive are among the activities organised by FCHO in the past 12 months.

A sponsored fire walk in March also raised more than £10,000 as 44 brave volunteers walked across hot coals at Oldham Rugby Union Club.

Jenny Robinson, TOG Mind chief executive, said: "We have been overwhelmed by the support that FCHO has shown us over this year.

"The diverse range of fundraising activities have all been attacked with energy and passion. With this in mind, it is barely surprising they have smashed the £10,000 target.

"Thank you to everyone who got involved to support the services that TOG Mind provides across this community."

Money raised during 2016 will be used to provide care for the family members of individuals receiving support with their mental health.

It is hoped the provision of support, mediation and counselling to whole families via the pilot scheme will help to maintain healthy home environments. If successful the pilot is scheduled to be rolled out across Oldham.

The two establishments are also working in partnership to roll out TOG Mind's Active Monitoring Sessions to FCHO's community centres.

Sessions will see trained practitioners offer residents guided self-help to improve confidence and help with stress, anxiety and social isolation.

Cath Green, FCHO chief executive, said: "We have had a great year of fundraising with TOG Mind. We have raised £15,000 through the hard work and generosity of our colleagues and partner agencies for this fantastic charity.

"Knowing that the money raised will help communities and families is not only important to us but means that the people of Oldham will benefit from the efforts of the fundraising."

A cheque presentation took place at the FCHO offices on Tuesday.