Lanarkshire’s Trust Jack Foundation have been short-listed to become one of the latest recipients of funding from Scotmid Co-operative’s Community Connect initiative – potentially being awarded up to £15,000 to help raise awareness and provide support for young people suffering from mental health issues.
Community Connect was launched last year and enables Scotmid members to award good cause groups in their local area with funding of up to £15,000, generated via the sale of single use carrier bags.
In Scotmid’s West Member Region – encompassing Glasgow and the west of Scotland – Trust Jack Foundation are one of three good cause groups, who have been short-listed by a Scotmid member selection panel to receive a financial award of either £15,000, £7,500 or £2,500.
The other short-listed Good Cause Groups are Barrhead’s Tuesday Friendship Club and Glasgow’s Finding Your Feet.
Scotmid members collect votes by swiping their Community Connect card after every in-store purchase and then cast their votes for their preferred good cause group either in-store or at Scotmid’s West Region Annual General Meeting in April.
Trust Jack Foundation exists to raise awareness of mental health illnesses to young people living across Lanarkshire though youth groups and clubs.
The charity helps them to understand what mental health illness is, what they should do and where they should go to for the help that they need.
The Community Connect funding will be used to create a trusting and friendly environment where young people can talk freely about their emotions and get the support they need to achieve their full potential.
Janet Walsh, Secretary of the Trust Jack Foundation, said: “It really is fantastic news that we’ve been short-listed for a Community Connect award – this will help to raise our profile.
“Sadly mental health is still a taboo subject, but there are still so many young people, who require our help.
“The Community Connect funding will make a big difference to what we do. We’ve recently acquired new premises and we are planning to expand the service we provide to young people in the area.
“If we were successful and received the top award then we would look to invest in a minibus, so that we can transport young people from rural areas to and from our sessions and also buy additional equipment such as books.”