An appeal has been launched to raise vital funds to provide mental health support for some of Stoke-on-Trent’s most vulnerable families.

Grant funding for a mental health worker at the Gingerbread Centre homeless support charity has run out and a search for further funding has so far proved fruitless.

Mental health and wellbeing support is crucial to the Gingerbread Centre’s aim to support homeless families. The charity has two accommodation centres for parents with children but is committed to providing more than just a roof and aims to help families build a sustainable future.

“Ensuring mental wellbeing is vital if our families are going to thrive,” said Chair of Trustees Nigel Howle. “Like any responsible charity, the Gingerbread Centre holds an appropriate level of reserves and we are committed to funding the mental health worker until the end of the financial year. But that situation is clearly not sustainable and, while we continue to work to obtain new grant funding, we are now launching a public appeal.

“We are appealing to charitable individuals and companies to support the Gingerbread Centre Mental Health Matters campaign. Individual donors can become Friends of the Gingerbread Centre by pledging as little as £5 a month. Businesses can also join the Mental Health Matters appeal and pledge £20 a month and we are appealing to larger businesses to donate £1,000 each from their CSR budgets.”

To support the Gingerbread Centre appeal please contact Julie Levert 01782 973491, email [email protected].

ENDS

For media enquiries contact Nigel Howle on 0776 2043436, email [email protected].