Chester mental health charity receives funding boost from Global’s Make Some Noise appeal
Charity to receive double the grant they had expected
Global’s Make Some Noise, the official charity of media and entertainment group Global, took mental health charity Platform For Life CEO Ceri George by surprise when she discovered that the Chester-based charity is to receive double the grant they had originally expected during an interview with Capital North West and North Wales’ Ben Sheppard.
The interview, which aired on Ben’s late afternoon show on Friday 19th April, was one of several taking place on Global radio stations, featuring small charities who are amongst the 41 recipients of Global's Make Some Noise grants. This follows the Group’s 2023 campaign to raise funds and help increase awareness of small charities around the UK. Platform For Life offers free, community-based counselling, art and play therapies to adults, children and young people in the Blacon, Lache and Kingsway areas of Chester; the additional funding announced by Ben during Ceri’s interview means that the charity will now be able to cover the costs of employing a therapist for three days a week over a two-year period rather than the one year that the charity had initially expected.
Platform For Life aims to prevent poor mental health becoming a life-long disability and focuses on stopping the cycle of it being passed down from one generation to the next. Clients come from low-income households and many of them have suffered significant traumas. Support is local, quick and easy to access and not time-limited, helping clients achieve long-term healing rather than just short-term symptom reduction.
Ceri says, “We were already thrilled when we were told that we going to receive a grant that we understood would cover one year of a part time therapist's costs. When Ben told me they were doubling the amount we are being awarded, I was absolutely blown away and actually felt really emotional. We are so grateful for this support – it will help many low-income families struggling with poor mental health. Finding funding for the charity is a continual source of pressure which makes moments like these feel very special indeed.”
This year, Global’s Make Some Noise has awarded grants totalling over £2.6 million for life-changing projects in local communities, helping small charities across the UK who deliver essential support, yet who also face growing waiting lists, increasing costs and a downturn in donations. In common with these charities, demand continues to grow for Platform For Life’s services. All forms of fundraising support, such as individual donations and business partnerships, continue to be vital to enable the charity to deliver its much-needed services and the Platform For Life team would be delighted to hear from anyone who feels they might be able to help. Further information about Platform For Life, including its most recent social impact report, can be found on its website, and the team can be contacted at info@platformforlife.org.uk.
The full interview with Ben and Ceri can be heard on 7 day catch up via Global Player.