Hundreds of people working for the Capital’s charities will receive specialist mental health support after a report revealed they are facing growing pressure.
City Bridge Trust, the City Corporation’s charitable funder, awarded over £79,000 to six London charities for the projects. The grants follow a London Funders’ study which found a critical need to protect the mental health of charity staff and volunteers.
It said community-facing workers, such as youth counsellors and advice workers, are experiencing increased pressure and demand, leading to concerns about their resilience.
Toynbee Hall in East London, Fine Cell Work in Victoria, and The Listening Place in Pimlico, are among the recipients.
Dhruv Patel, chairman of the City of London Corporation’s City Bridge Trust committee, said: “Charity staff provide an essential service to people right across the UK, but they can often feel overwhelmed.
“Dealing with such complex emotional issues can result in anxiety, depression, burnout, and even secondary trauma.
“Charities are the beating heart of our communities. We want to help them work as effectively as possible and support their staff to work effectively without being personally compromised.”
Jasmine Ashley-Tagoe, free legal advice centre manager at Toynbee Hall, said: “The provision of free legal advice in the UK is becoming increasingly challenging.
“Cuts to mental health services have resulted in more clients with uncontrolled and unmanaged mental health illnesses.
“As a result, frontline staff are frequently exposed to troubling and unexpected situations. This can make it difficult for them to engage with clients and build the rapport and trust required to help them.
“It can also have an adverse effect on the wellbeing of frontline staff. This funding will help us provide a positive, inclusive and balanced service for clients while protecting the wellbeing of staff.”
