‘You Are Not Alone’ programme to expand into neighbouring Camden, Hackney, and Haringey
Body & Soul is one of 126 organisations to have been awarded Building Connections Funding, launched by the government to tackle loneliness in England.
Funding has been awarded from the £11.5m Building Connections Fund, launched by the UK Government in 2018 to tackle loneliness in England. The fund was created in a partnership between the government, Big Lottery Fund, and the Co-op Foundation. A local and longstanding partner of Islington Giving, Body & Soul, is one of 126 organisations to have been awarded funding. What’s more, its grant will be used to expand life changing work that began in Islington in 2016.
“In 2016, Islington Giving kickstarted Body & Soul’s ‘You Are Not Alone’ programme to save and transform the lives of young people who have attempted suicide” says Body & Soul Fundraising & Partnerships Manager Helen Watson. “Just two years after launching ‘You Are Not Alone’, Body & Soul is delighted to have received funding through the Building Connections Fund thanks to the support of Her Majesty’s Government and National Lottery players.”
Body & Soul will use its funding to expand the project into Camden, Hackney & Haringey, reaching more “young people whose lives have been devastated by trauma, isolation, and suicide”, Helen explains. “Suicide is the leading cause of death of young people in the UK, and loneliness is one of the key factors which drives individuals to take their own lives.”
Patrick Jones, Islington Giving Programme Manager, supported Body & Soul to apply for funding that shaped the original project. He says that “Islington Giving was delighted to hear that Body & Soul will be able to expand its innovative ‘You Are Not Alone’ project, providing support to some of the most vulnerable young people in London at risk of suicide and self-harm.” In the face of alarmingly high levels of mental ill health in the borough, Islington Giving is committed to supporting the mental wellbeing of local people.
This project demonstrates Islington Giving’s willingness to fund innovative, ground-breaking new work to change the lives of Islington residents. Patrick explains that “from 2016 Body & Soul were able to test and build a model of support that has already helped many young Islington residents to see a more positive future.” We are hopeful that the project will have similar success for our neighbours in Camden, Hackney and Haringey.
You can find out more about ‘You Are Not Alone’ on the Body & Soul website.
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