News

On Friday 6th November 2009 Jitinder Birah and Sophie Burchett visited the offices of Re-think, the charity chosen as the recipients of Duncan Lewis’ ‘October’ fundraising.

£1,406.95 was raised amongst Duncan Lewis employess on Wednesday 14th October 2009 at the first inter-branch football competition. It was a hugely successful and fun-filled evening and coupled with the childcare department’s bakery skills, which provided much needed refreshment, that allowed Duncan Lewis to make a significant contribution to Re-think.

Re-think support both those with mental illness and the people that care for them and they work hard to improve attitudes and end the discrimination and stigma that mental illness is plagued by. They are the largest national voluntary sector providers of mental health services, with over 350 services and more that 150 support groups across the country.

"in twenty-first century Britain, people affected by severe mental illness still face a wall discrimination. People encounter stigma and prejudice every day, doing simply things that others take for granted..." "...Rethink’s vision is a world in which people affected by mental illness are treated with respect and accepted as equal citizens."

Jitender Birah and Sophie Burchett went to visit Re-Think to present them with the money Duncan Lewis had raised.

It was an eye-opening experience to visit their head offices and see the amount of time, effort and dedication which goes into running the charity. We also had the opportunity to talk to the staff and see where our money will be going. Re-think’s National Information and Advice Service provides expert advice and information on issues that affect the lives of people coping with or caring for someone who is coping with mental illness, talking through the possibilities and helping them cope with the complex problems that they are often confronted with. This advice service offers free and independent advice however it is struggling and has been forced to cut down its opening hours. The money raised by Duncan Lewis will go some way to ensure that it can remain up and running in the future. It was great to have the opportunity to see where our money will be going and it is certainly clear that all the money raised went to a fantastic cause.

Click here to see pitcures from the event.