How coffee cups are helping to save lives

A North East suicide prevention charity is aiming to get people talking during the coronavirus lockdown after partnering with a Sunderland business.

The ‘have a cuppa, have a chat’ campaign will see Chester-le-Street based-charity If U Care Share Foundation’s details printed on thousands of coffee cups distributed to sites each month by North East Vending.

The Sunderland-based firm supplies vending machines to hospitals and other key worker sites across the North East .

It will carry the mental health messaging on its products to encourage people to open up.

As part of the recent Mental Health Week, If U Care Share Foundation and North East Vending also encouraged people to hold online coffee mornings to check in with loved ones and get conversations started.

If U Care Share Foundation’s Fundraising and Events Manager and city councillor for Sunderland’s St Chad’s ward, Dominic McDonough, welcomed the campaign.

“We are delighted to be working with the team at North East Vending, they are a family run business who have been trading for more than 45 years and have a real community focus,” he said.

“Their support will make a huge difference and help us to reach even more people who need our support.

“Talking in a responsible way whilst distancing or by using technology such as Zoom can provide valuable support and help people to get issues off their chest in a way that they simply couldn’t anywhere else.

“Having a cuppa and a chat may seem like a small thing but talking really can save lives.”