We are brimming with gratitude here at the Molly Rose Foundation, for our fourteen runners who took part in the Brighton Marathon and the 10K race this month. Our weekend by the coast also saw the largest ever rollout of our Coffee for Molly mental health initiative and across the channel we also had an intrepid couple run the Paris Marathon in our name.
This month we have also welcomed a new member of staff on board and we will be adding new mental health training courses to our calendar, which you can directly book through our revamped training portal.
We are also celebrating the fact we have now distributed more than 200,000 Where To Find Help cards.
If you need support, you can still contact someone you trust for help. You are not alone and it is OK not to be OK.
If you’re finding today difficult text MRF to 85258 to message a trained volunteer.
Raising awareness
April 6th saw our most ambitious rollout yet of Coffee for Molly, coinciding with the Brighton Marathon and 10K race on the same day.
A remarkable 13 cafes took part in the initiative, which saw Coffee for Molly conversation starter menus, Molly Rose Foundation-branded coffee cup sleeves and Where To Find Help cards distributed to customers.
The free scheme saw the placement of resources in cafes along the running routes to encourage customers to talk about mental health.
Chief Executive Andy Burrows said: “We thank all of those who ran and raised funds for us from the bottom of our hearts and we are absolutely delighted by how many cafes took part in Coffee for Molly.
“It’s vitally important to take time to talk and that so many coffee shops were so eager to take part proves just what a special place Brighton is.
“The atmosphere and the weather this weekend has been glorious – we can’t wait to do it again next year. And watch this space… we’ve got our sights on the London Marathon too!”
Fundraising
Everyone at Molly Rose Foundation sends an enormous thank you to our Brighton and Paris runners and their supporters, who have so far raised almost £15,000 in total.
The MRF team were on site at the finish line with bubbles, specially-designed medals and all important post-race snacks for Marathon runners Eliza Turner, Katie Wills, Regis Vata, Naftali Levene, Joe Jerrom, Uriel Lev and Gabriel Steinberg.
Rhiannon Proctor, Daniel Thompson, Sophie Kitchen, Ellie Ireland, Michael Wright, Steve Wright and Gage Arneaud made up our 10K contingent, with both teams’ collective efforts topping £10,000 in fundraising. Meanwhile Diggory Slee and Honor Congreve together raised £4,500 in the Paris Marathon.
We also send our gratitude to Hatch End High School in Harrow, which raised £700 during a ‘Purple Day’ fundraising event. This was supported by staff and students and included cake sales and everybody wearing something purple.
Education, training and self-support
Training
We now list the vital courses you can book with us on our revamped training page; whether it’s how to become a Youth Mental Health First Aid Champion, ways to open a crucial conversation about Suicide First Aid, our What is Mental Health two-hour workshop or our My Bag of Happiness activity for schoolchildren.
We will update this page regularly with the new courses we add so please do check it.
Some of the feedback we have received recently: “It was a really worthwhile day and I am pleased that I left home at 4am in the morning during my holiday to attend. I have learnt some new skills and our trainer was fabulous.”
My Bag of Happiness
This year as we look to reach more schools and give valuable lessons to more children with our My Bag of Happiness scheme. Suitable for children aged between 7-11, the cheerful purple bags support PSHE lessons and encourage children to create and collect happy memories, enabling them to reflect upon these and gain strength when needed.
Feedback tells us this initiative is empowering for the children who take part and equips them with vital tools with which to express themselves.
If you are a teacher or parent and would like to receive one or more of these Molly Rose Foundation-designed My Bag of Happiness packs please contact us via training@mollyrosefoundation.org to submit your request, letting us know the relevant information (including your name, address, contact details, number of packs required etc). Any additional background details you can provide us with about why you’d like one or more of these packs would also be appreciated.
Molly Rose Foundation staff are also available to run workshops using the packs and will happily come into schools in the London area to do this. Our trainers are DBS checked and are used to working with children in schools. To arrange a workshop please contact us at: training@mollyrosefoundation.org
Donations directly to the My Bag of Happiness initiative can be made here.
News
Our Chair of Trustees Ian Russell gave a powerful interview on BBC Newsnight discussing US trade deals and how online safety regulation should not be on the table.
Describing himself as “appalled” he told presenters: “It’s up to the Prime Minister to urgently to clarify what’s going on and he should be listening to the British public rather than the waves of politics coming over.”
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This month also saw the announcement of Ofcom’s Children’s Safety Codes. Ian led our response, stating: “I am dismayed by the lack of ambition in today’s codes. Instead of moving fast to fix things, the painful reality is that Ofcom’s measures will fail to prevent more young deaths like my daughter Molly’s.
“Ofcom’s risk adverse approach is a bitter pill for bereaved parents to swallow. Their overly cautious codes put the bottom line of reckless tech companies ahead of tackling preventable harm.
“We lose at least one young life to tech-related suicide every single week in the UK which is why today’s sticking plaster approach cannot be allowed to stand.”
Citing recent MRF research, he added: “A speedy remedy is within reach if the Prime Minister personally intervenes to fix this broken system. Less than one in ten parents think Ofcom is doing enough and Sir Keir Starmer must commit without delay to strengthen online safety legislation.”
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Molly Rose Foundation is delighted to welcome Rowan Ferguson aboard as a Policy and Public Affairs Manager.
Rowan joins us after two years at the National Children’s Bureau, where he worked to improve support for children and young people across a range of policy areas. Rowan has also previously led high profile research on media literacy and pathways to online harm.
He said: “This is a critical moment for our children and young people. With online threats continuing to grow in scale and complexity, regulation is currently failing to deliver. Molly’s story provides a powerful impetus to face this challenge and take urgent action to put children’s safety first.”
To see more MRF news and press releases, please visit our news section.
Support in crisis
This year so far, we have sent out 17,540 Where To Find Help cards in response to 61 requests. Since the charity began operating, we have distributed more than 200,000.
These popular pocked-sized help cards feature four different messages of reassurance and provide information signposting children and young people to mental health support services.
Some of our recent feedback: “We hand out around 200 wellbeing kits to students each year during Mental Health Awareness Week – we also have these available throughout the year for students to take with them.”
“I work for the community safety team for the Fire Service and deliver fire safety to schools and events across South Yorkshire. I think your cards would be great for the work we do and we can help deliver your support and messages.”
We also welcome requests from universities, colleges and schools. If you are an individual with a connection to any of these, please get in touch.
Each box contains approximately 140 cards with a list of recommended organisations that can help in varying circumstances. On the reverse side you’ll find printed one of four different inspiring quotes.
If you require more than one box, please state how many in the comments section online and we will arrange delivery of any amount required.
Please click here to complete a request form and find out more about our help cards.
Other ways to support us
Become a regular donor – Click here to view our Enthuse platform, where you can view fundraising events already in place and where you can take the opportunity to start fundraising yourself. Alternatively, click here where you can make a donation directly.
