Help us stay connected this Christmas
We know how important staying socially connected is for our mental health and we believe that no one need be lonely or isolated, especially at Christmas time. Our support groups are run by volunteers with experience of living with mental health problems. Many of them have found new and innovative ways to stay connected and keep life interesting in lockdown – like David, who leads our choir group in Harrow. He runs three group singing sessions a week and has just celebrated his 100th Zoom event. Your donations help us support groups like these to be there for more people during the coronavirus outbreak and beyond.
Choose how you'd like to donate:
£5 could help us to update our information hub with essential information to help people who may be feeling anxious or isolated to manage their mental health.
£10 could pay for a call to our advice and information line, supporting someone living with mental illness who may be feeling in distress during this time.
£25 could help pay for a group coordinator to stay in touch with isolated group members by phone for six weeks.
£30 could allow us to promote an online support group on social media, connecting people who are feeling isolated and may be experiencing mental health problems for the first time.
Choose the amount you’d like to give. No matter how small your donation will help us bring life-changing support to people who need it
Help us reach more people like M.A – a member who first discovered the group just before lockdown
– M.A. - member of the More Than Just A Choir group in Harrow (joined in 2019)"I only walked in for the free mince pies and when I heard them all I felt this amazing sense of joy. They all sang so beautifully, and David was so welcoming, inviting us onlookers to join in. I enquired about joining it, never had the confidence to come and stand up in front of a group and sing, it was so good to see like-minded people and really lifted my spirits. If this lockdown ever ends, I can’t wait to meet you all face to face and for us all to sing and laugh together. I really feel blessed to be part of this"
David Phelops is director of our More Than Just A Choir group in Harrow and runs three group singing sessions a week and also some one-to-one singing sessions over the phone – he’s also recently celebrated his 100th Zoom choir event with an online choir party.
David told us: “the importance and the way that group singing can bring people together in joy and community is boundless Being able to meet online has kept the community, that has been built up over more than ten years, alive and thriving; for people to be able to communicate, strengthen bonds of friendship, feel safe and cared for, despite being isolated, not forgetting, of course, the opportunity to sing to their heart’s content.”
In this short clip, David explains how the group have managed to keep running during these difficult times.
Festive fundraising ideas
Move it for Mental Health
Join hundreds of people up and down the UK who are moving it for mental health through this second lockdown over the festive period and into the new year. Do something to help your wellbeing while moving forward together for mental health.
Christmas Advent Calendar
Each day on the run to Christmas we’re bringing you wellbeing tips, festive activities and easy ways to fundraise.
Send a virtual Christmas card
Save the planet and donate to Mental Health UK by sending a virtual Christmas card to someone you love this Christmas. Each card sent will raise vital funds for us.