News Archive June 2021

Suffolk Mind have confirmed that every reception aged child (four-to-five-years-old) will receive a free storybook in September, teaching them about the benefits of exercise on their mental health.

Independent mental health charity, Suffolk Mind launched a Crowdfunding campaign on World Book Day in March to raise enough money to publish over 8,000 copies of ‘Sammy the Sea Squirt’. With the help of many supporters including Suffolk County Council, the East of England Co-op, Treatt, and the arc in Bury St Edmunds this can now become a reality.

The picture book is based on the character Sammy the Sea Squirt, who moves with ocean friends to look after memory and emotions. Head of Education at Suffolk Mind, Ezra Hewing, has written the story, and a local children’s illustrator has brought the characters to life.

Ezra Hewing said: “We are so grateful to everyone who supported this campaign so we can deliver a very special book to all four-to-five-year-olds in Suffolk during their first year of school.

“We want to ensure that children know the benefits of exercise on their mental health from a young age to help them to learn the skills to be emotionally resilient as they continue to grow into adulthood.”

A number of schools supported the campaign by hosting their own Sammy the Sea Squirt fundraising day on Friday 28th May by dressing up in colourful clothes and taking part in lots of fun, education activities.

Suffolk’s Most Active County Partnership and Public Health Suffolk have also supported the campaign throughout and will be distributing the books to children when they return to school in September.

Cllr Andrew Reid, Cabinet Member for Public Health, Public Protection, & Communities, said: “We are delighted to see this project come to fruition. It’s a really imaginative way of helping children and families understand how important it is for our children’s physical and mental health that they are active from a young age and build strong foundations for being active throughout their lives.

“Hearty congratulations to everyone involved in the successful fundraising campaign and I look forward to seeing the finished version of the book distributed to all reception age children in Suffolk later in the year.”

The Crowdfunding campaign will close at midnight tonight (Friday 11th June 2021).

Author: Ellie Winch
Posted on: 11th June 2021

Members of the Suffolk Fire and Rescue service will be taking on the Great East Swim on Saturday 19th June 2021 in memory of their Group Manager’s brother, who took his own life in 2016.

Sally Hammond will be joining 10 of her team to swim one mile across Alton Water to raise money for independent mental health charity Suffolk Mind. She will be remembering her brother Carl who had struggled with depression.

Sally said: “I’m supporting Suffolk Mind because one in four blue light workers suffer mental illness at some time in their career and need support which Suffolk Mind offer.

“My brother was a police officer who suffered poor mental health. Part of the reason he didn’t seek the help he needed was due to the stigma attached to his illness.

“It’s important for us to be proactive, have empathy and be more understanding of mental health illnesses which can be very debilitating”.

This will be the 5th Great East Swim Sally and her team have taken part in since 2015.

Lizzy Tuthill, Community Fundraising Coordinator said: “We’re so pleased Sally and her team will be taking part in the Great East Swim for Suffolk Mind. Money raised from events like this goes towards helping us in our mission of making Suffolk the best place in the world to talk about and take care of mental health.”

Suffolk Mind still have free charity places available for either the half or one-mile swims. The event will be following strict covid-secure procedures, ensuring the safety of participants, spectators, and Great Swim crew. 

To sign up for one of Suffolk Mind’s charity places, click here.

Author: Ellie Winch
Posted on: 7th June 2021