Arthur Ellis: Mental Health Support has always been about action rather than words.
As well as celebrating the local community at the recent Summer Wellbeing Festival, that spirit of action was on full display in September as a group of local businesses took on the annual The Parks Trust 25 Mile Challenge in aid of Arthur Ellis MHS, raising more than £3,000 in vital funds to support children, young people and adults who need mental health support.
The event brought together teams from five local businesses – Howes Percival, Mercer & Hole, Handelsbanken, Group 1 Automotive and TC Group – who made the commitment to completing a 25-mile route around Milton Keynes on foot, all walking in recognition of the ongoing need for timely, effective mental health services.
The distance itself was no small feat, but it reflected the journey many face when trying to access support – long, difficult and at times overwhelming. Through events like this, Arthur Ellis is not only raising money, but also raising awareness that mental health just cannot wait.
Founder and Chief Fundraising Officer Jon Manning said: “Our mission has always been to make mental health support better, faster and more human. Every step of that walk represented someone in our community who deserves access to help without delay. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we’re able to make a difference every day.”
Corporate partnerships driving impact
Alongside community fundraising, Arthur Ellis continues to build powerful relationships with businesses through its Corporate Membership programme. These partnerships are essential in creating sustainable funding streams while providing workplaces with the tools they need to support their own staff.
Arthur Ellis regularly delivers education and training sessions across workplaces in a wide range of industries and locations. These sessions are made possible through monthly donations at three different levels, ensuring there’s an option to suit businesses of all sizes.
- Positive Wellbeing Sessions (£100/month): an engaging, interactive hour-long workshop where staff learn to better understand their wellbeing and develop positive coping strategies. Using Arthur Ellis’ unique Bananas and Doughnuts Framework, these sessions are designed to be fun, memorable and empowering
- Positive Wellbeing Champion Training (£300/month): going beyond awareness, this three-hour session develops Wellbeing Champions within organisations. Champions gain practical strategies which improve workplace wellbeing and foster a culture where staff can thrive, creating ripple effects throughout the organisation.
- Bespoke Peer-To-Peer Training Podcasts (£500/month): traditional training can often be difficult to deliver across several teams at once. In view of this, Arthur Ellis has developed the Wellbeing Conversations, a series of peer-to-peer training podcasts and videos created in partnership with organisation. Tailored to invidivual needs, these resources live on beyond the initial session, helping to build lasting cultural change.
This tiered approach means that every corporate partner is directly funding one-to-one support for children and young people, while also reaping the benefits of improved wellbeing within their own workforce.
With NHS waiting lists continuing to grow, the demand for accessible, quality mental health support has never been greater. For many children and families, Arthur Ellis provides a lifeline, one that is only possible through the combined efforts of fundraising events and corporate partnerships.
The Parks Trust 25 Mile Walk is a reminder that when people come together, they can achieve extraordinary things. Corporate partners, whether large or small, are invited to be part of that same spirit of collaboration, ensuring that no one is left waiting for help when they need it most.
Jon added: “The support we receive from businesses is transformational. It allows us to provide immediate, life-changing sessions for people who might otherwise be waiting months or even years. At the same time, those businesses are investing in the resilience and wellbeing of their own teams. It really is a win-win.”
To find out more, visit their website.
