CO-OP LAUNCHES CHARITY PARTNERSHIP TO SUPPORT MENTAL WELLBEING

10 October 2019

Embargoed: Not for publication or broadcast before 00:01 Thursday 10 October

At a time when a quarter of the population experience mental health problems, the Co-op today (10 October) announced a new charity partnership to support its commitment to tackle mental wellbeing for its colleagues and communities across the UK. The Co-op will be working with Mind in England and Wales, SAMH in Scotland and Inspire in Northern Ireland to help people to develop the skills needed to effectively support both their own and others’ mental health in their communities. The Co-op aims to raise £6m through the partnership by engaging colleagues, members and customers in a range of national and local fundraising. The initial focus will be on fundraising but the partnership will develop in order to enable the charities to deliver innovative new services in communities across the UK to ensure people receive the support they need. Steve Murrells, the Co-op’s CEO said: “For decades mental health has been under reported and underfunded. It’s also one of those issues people still find difficult to talk about, despite the fact that it can affect any of us at any time. Indeed, research shows us that mental health issues effect 1 in 4 people each year. That’s 14 million people in the UK “It not only feels right that as a Co-op we focus on this issue but our Community Wellbeing Index, which enables people to go on line and compare their community with 28,000 others across the country, has identified mental wellbeing as an area that needs our support. “Supporting the issues surrounding mental wellbeing is a key part of our Co-operate 2022 plan and is interlinked to our other key focus areas, spaces and skills, to create healthier and happier communities. “We are looking forward to working with Mind, SAMH and Inspire to bring communities together to improve mental wellbeing.” Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind, said: “We’re delighted to be forming a major partnership with the Co-op. As mental health begins to rise up the agenda, we are becoming more aware of the need to provide help and support to the one in four of us who experience a mental health problem every year, and support communities across the UK to build resilience.” Billy Watson, Chief Executive of SAMH, said: “We are excited to launch this fantastic new partnership with the Co-op, which will help communities come together to improve mental wellbeing across Scotland and beyond. We know that connecting with others, access to the right support and looking after your own mental and physical health are just some of the factors that can benefit mental wellbeing. “Working with one of Scotland’s biggest retailers and funeral operators is an excellent opportunity to help communities make positive changes, and we thank the Co-op for recognising the importance.” Kerry Anthony, CEO at Inspire said: “We are really delighted to be working with the Co-op on this important new partnership. By choosing to focus on mental health in such a public way, the Co-op is making a strong anti-stigma statement, helping to open up important conversations and encouraging all of us to look after ourselves, our families and our communities.” The Co-op aims to repeat with this campaign the success of its recent partnership with the British Red Cross, which through its pioneering research “ trapped in a bubble “ evidenced that isolation and loneliness is mainstream and affects nine million people of all age groups across the UK regularly.
During the campaign the Government appointed a minister with specific responsibility for loneliness and the “Connecting Communities” programme funded by the money raised by Co-op colleagues and members, enabled the British Red Cross to support more than 10,000 people.

About the Co-op: The Co-op is one of the world’s largest consumer co-operatives with interests across food, funerals, insurance, legal services and health. It has a clear purpose of championing a better way of doing business for you and your communities. Owned by millions of UK consumers, the Co-op operates 2,600 food stores, over 1,000 funeral homes and it provides products to over 5,100 other stores, including those run by independent co-operative societies and through its wholesale business, Nisa Retail Limited. It has more than 63,000 colleagues and an annual revenue of over £10 billion.

About Mind Mind, the mental health charity, provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding. They won't give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets both support and respect. www.mind.org.uk

Please note that Mind is not an acronym and should be set in title case. Mind has a confidential information and support line, Mind Infoline, available on 0300 123 3393 (lines open 9am - 6pm, Monday – Friday)

About SAMH Around since 1923, SAMH currently operates over 60 services in communities across Scotland providing mental health social care support, addictions and employment services, among others. These services together with national programme work in See Me, respectme, suicide prevention, physical activity and sport; inform SAMH’s policy and campaign work to influence positive social change. www.samh.org.uk

About Inspire Inspire (formerly NIAMH), established in 1959, is a charity and social enterprise. We provide a range of recovery focused person centred services in the areas of mental health, learning/intellectual disability, autism, addiction and workplace & student wellbeing services across the island of Ireland. We also campaign to raise awareness, tackle stigma and lobby for change. Our aim is wellbeing for all. https://www.inspirewellbeing.org/

For more information contact: Dave Smith Co-op 07702 152771

To access to a range of free images to accompany mental health news stories, visit: www.time-to-change.org.uk/getthepicture. These images have been developed by Time to Change, a campaign to change how we all think and act about mental health problems. Time to Change is led by the charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, and funded by the Department of Health, Comic Relief and the Big Lottery Fund.