Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT) was delighted to receive more than £3,700 towards a mental health project as one of the New Eltham's Co-ops chosen charities over the past year. The funds, which were raised from member purchases on Co-op own-brand products, will go towards CACT's Next Steps mental health project.
Next Steps residential trips give people on CACT's Early Intervention in Psychosis programme the opportunity to go to Cornwall for three nights and take part in a range of physical activities including coasteering and kayaking. This helps build confidence and self-esteem, as well as helping to reduce social isolation.
Deborah Jeyachandran, Co-op New Eltham's Store Manager, said:
"I'm delighted to have presented Charlton Athletic Community Trust with a cheque for £3,737.23 raised by Co-op members and to learn that the money raised will go towards trips for people in our community accessing mental health services to improve their confidence and reduce social isolation."
Carl Krauhaus, CACT's Head of Early Help & Prevention, said:
"Thank you so much to the Co-op New Eltham store for raising funds for Next Steps over the past year. The programme is an important part of the recovery process for a lot of people we're supporting, and gives them the opportunity to try new experiences and stay away from home. For some of the participants, it's the first time they've been away from home except for hospital stays in years."
For more information on the Next Steps programme and how it helped one participant this year, read Mahala's story.