Hard-hit charity makes video to attract donors
FUNDING CRISIS SPARKED BY END OF LOTTERY SUPPORT
A NOTTINGHAM charity is appealing for new partners to help combat a funding crisis.
Mental health charity Improving Lives is facing a significant cut in funding because its support from the National Lottery is ending.
Now the organisation has launched a video in partnership with independent Nottingham filmmakers My Town Vision to attract more donations.
The video showcases the group’s work supporting isolated people with long-term mental health issues.
Interim chief executive Kerry Devine said: “We are very proud and moved by the video that has been produced.
“When you have a team that supports so many people with such varied needs, it’s very difficult to sum up in just a couple of minutes, but I hope it gives a flavour of our commitment to supporting the people who need us.
“Our services are vital for many people in the city and to have a resource that we can share with Nottingham to demonstrate our impact is essential.
“Mental health provision in Nottingham is needed now more than ever, but what we currently offer will not be sustainable in the new year due to a lack of funding.
“In the past two years we have experienced an average of a 55 percent increase in referrals year on year, which is a significant number of people.
“It has been a huge challenge for the people we support, and our team has risen to it.
“Since the lockdown in March 2020, we have offered support to
312 people, which is more than double the amount we are funded for. In the last month alone we’ve supported 164 people.
“That is why we are hoping that this video can inspire potential donors and partners to join with us in protecting Nottingham’s most vulnerable residents.”
The charity is now working to build more corporate partnerships.
This year it produced a new fundraising pack and it is now appealing for fundraising efforts from the business community so it can continue its work.
Sophie Price, one of the founders of My Town Vision, said: “We were approached by Improving Lives to make a video which reflected the charity.
“From the moment we met, we hit it off and we were impressed by the ethos of the charity and the services they provide.”
She added: “We were especially touched because the charity is Nottingham-based – we are always looking to work with clients who want to improve or protect the heart of Nottingham.
“It was quite overwhelming to hear some of the stories.
“That’s why we wanted to help because I wondered what would these people do without these services.
“I was quite moved by the whole process.”
Ex-service user and current volunteer Waseem said: “Improving Lives has helped me by giving me the basic skills on how to survive each day. After coming out of prison, I didn’t have very much support, and my support worker helped me get back on track. It was a lot of work and yet they gave me everything I needed.”
Shoosmiths Solicitors, which has supported the charity for over three years, also feature in the video and has enjoyed raising much-needed funds through events such as auctions and marathons.
Our services are vital for many people in the city but what we offer will not be sustainable in the new year Kerry Devine