KIND-HEARTED staff at a York-based healthcare provider have launched a year-long campaign to raise vital funds for a local mental health charity.

Benenden, based in Holgate Park Drive, off Poppleton Road, kickstarted a new partnership with York Mind on Thursday, which was Time to Talk Day.

The healthcare company will work with and raise funds for York Mind throughout 2018 after staff at the firm chose it as their charity of the year.

Benenden staff also celebrated Time to Talk Day by placing posters, leaflets and conversation invitations around the company’s offices, which encourage people to talk about mental health

The day is a chance for people to be more open about mental health – to talk, to listen, and to change lives.

Emmie Wise, of Benenden, said: “We can’t wait to focus more on mental health with the help of York Mind, and are looking forward to fundraising in aid of such a worthy cause throughout the year.

“Benenden has been working to prioritise mental health for quite some time now, and 2017 saw the business sign the Time to Change Pledge, and provide training in mental health first aid.”

Staff at Benenden will take part in a number of fundraising activities to raise funds for York Mind, including dress down days, cake sales, awareness days on site and a team of 16 staff will enter the Rotary Dragon Boat Race this year.

Holly Bilton, community fundraiser at York Mind, said: “We look forward to working together closely with the Benenden team, to help York Mind continue and develop our vital one-to-one and group based services in York.”

In 2017, Benenden raised £2,632 for Macmillan Cancer

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