Wirral charity continue supporting vulnerable young people with help from Cheshire Freemasons.
Vulnerable young people will continue to receive free, fast and effective support from Open Door with help from a grant from Cheshire Freemasons.
The grant will support Open Door in providing physical and creative sessions, on top of bespoke one to one mental health support, with an emphasis on curating and co-designing programmes alongside the young people that the charity supports.
The funding will make a significant difference in the lives of young people by helping to diversify programming, as well as enabling the delivery of a range of additional sessions to support their members during holiday periods.
Outreach work in the local community will also raise awareness of the support Open Door provides, with the intention that more young people will be able to access support as a result.
One in six young people in England (aged five to 16) experienced a mental health problem in 2020, with more than twice as many hospital admissions for mental health conditions for those under the age of 18 in the Wirral compared to England as a whole.
Programmes have been specifically codesigned with the young people, with the aim of producing an offer that works for them. One to one support is made up of short exercises and creative tasks delivered over six weeks to help young people express themselves and build up relationships with staff. These are delivered through a non-linear approach to accommodate for Open Door’s members.
The grant from Cheshire Freemasons comes through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, funded by Freemasons, their families, and friends, from across England and Wales.
The Cheshire Freemasons have been long-time supporters of the charity, with prior grants including the provision of a new heating system at the previous premises in Seaview Road, and a grant to cover the cost of the Bazaar sheds in the Bloom Building, out of which one to one support is offered for young people and adults aged 17-35.
Open Door Founder and Director, Lee Pennington said:
“We’re very grateful to Cheshire Freemasons for their generous grant, for contributing to our life-saving support, and for helping us to promote the better mental health and wellbeing of our young people. It’s always been crucial that we can offer free, immediate support, and with the help of this grant we can continue to do so.”
David Dyson from Cheshire Freemasons, said:
“I’m really pleased we’ve been able to help Open Door with their incredibly dynamic and forward-thinking projects. It’s hard for any young person to go through issues with their mental health and it can often be difficult for them to access the support they need. Open Door’s work has been shown to reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression, which is absolutely vital for the development of vulnerable young people.”
About Open Door
Open Door Charity is one of Merseyside’s most dynamic and progressive independent charities. Designed by young people, for young people, we deliver a range of award-winning services that improve the wellbeing and mental health of young people and adults, using innovation, arts, and culture as catalysts for change. Committed to providing free, fast and effective mental health support at the point that people need it most, we focus on supporting young people and adults because evidence shows that this age group are particularly short-changed by mainstream mental health support. By helping our members to find the tools, relationships and places that help them to feel great and live well, as early in life as possible, we will have the most impact.
Visit https://www.opendoorcharity.com/ for more information
For further information about the Masonic Charitable Foundation, please contact Guy Roberts, Press Officer (groberts@mcf.org.uk |0203 146 3311)
About the Masonic Charitable Foundation
The Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) is one of the largest grant-making charities in the country. Funded entirely through the generosity of Freemasons and their families, the MCF awards millions of pounds each year to local and national charities that help vulnerable people, advance medical research and provide opportunities for young people. The MCF also helps to fund vital services such as hospices and air ambulances and regularly contributes to worldwide appeals for disaster relief. In total, MCF support helps to improve the lives of thousands of people every year in England, Wales and internationally. As well as providing grants to charities, the MCF supports Freemasons and their families with a financial, health or family need. Visit www.mcf.org.uk
