LEXUS BRADFORD START PROJECT WITH MIND CHARITY​

16 million people in the UK experience a mental illness, meaning that one in four adults will experience a mental illness at some point each year in the UK. This ranges from anxiety and depression to alcohol dependence, substance misuse and psychosis and severe mental illness has been on the rise since the early 1990’s.

This is an issue that is important to the team at Lexus Bradford, therefore we felt that we should get involved in our local community and help to make a difference in the lives of those affected by mental health. We have built a relationship with the team at Mind in Bradford, our local mental health charity helping people who are struggling with emotional and mental health problems across Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven, which has resulted in the development of a project for Lexus Bradford staff to work on alongside the staff and volunteers at the charity.

Lexus Bradford have successfully applied for a £1,800 grant, from the Lexus UK Fund for a better tomorrow which is a fund available for Lexus Centres involvement in community initiatives. We will be working with Mind in Bradford on a special project for their Sanctuary Crisis Centre, which provides a calm, non-clinical, safe space for anyone aged 16+ experiencing mental health distress. It is often used as an alternative to going to hospital and in the past year the team at The Sanctuary have counselled over 500 individuals in distress.

Our project will involve the creation of Self-Care packs, which will be given to those using The Sanctuary, providing them with items such as nutritional food, warm clothing and sanitary projects to encourage people to care for themselves once they leave counselling. Crucially, these packs will also contain more information about on-going support.

We’re looking forward to increasing our involvement in the local community and being able to help those facing mental health issues.