The Anthony Seddon Fund launches new LGBTQ+ support group in Tameside, with support from The Running Bee Foundation

Last December saw the launch of The Running Bee Foundation – a brand new initiative founded and supported by Sports Tours International which aims to make a difference in our local communities.

The very first recipient of a grant was The Anthony Seddon Fund, a superb charity that works tirelessly to support those with mental health issue and their families in the Tameside area.

We spoke to Donna Thomas from the Anthony Seddon fund who explained how that first grant is already starting to make a real difference…

“Like many other mental health charities we rely on the generosity and support of total strangers to help make our services as widely available as possible.

Without a financial cushion to fall on, many charities just like ours simply fade into nothingness. Luckily, we had The Running Bee Foundation on our side…

Their £500 donation (the very first of its kind from the foundation) was gratefully accepted with the knowledge that we could put it to good use, helping people in and around Tameside suffering with an array of mental health issues.

More specifically, we now have the power to move forward with our plans to establish a brand new LGBTQ+ support network.

Members of the LGBTQ+ community are often in need of help for a number of reasons and, sadly, we have noticed that many of them are not being supported in the ways they should be. And while there is already a very impressive support group for younger members of the community in Tameside, support for adult LGBTQ+ people is severely lacking in the area.

This is why we had to make a move…

But we couldn’t do this alone; we recognised the need to gage the thoughts and opinions of the very people we intend to help.

That’s why we hosted an Open Evening on Wednesday 30^th January 2019 for local people to express their interest in attending a support group, put across ideas of what support they would like to see, get involved as a volunteer and develop ideas to take the group forward.

Our attendees played such an important role in the future of this initiative and we are positive all the amazing information gathered at the evening will be of great help for both us and the LGBTQ+ people we intend to help moving into the future.

Nobody should be made to feel helpless or be marginalised in their own neighbourhood. With our 2 full-time members of staff, and over 40 dedicated volunteers, we’re positive we can make a difference in the lives of any LGBTQ+ people in need in our borough.

We still have a lot left to do and a lot of people to help. But, to everyone that has been supporting us since the beginning and to the new friends we’ve picked up along the way, we say:

Thank you.

Here’s to good mental health and a prosperous future for all.”

The Anthony Seddon Fund

The Running Bee Foundation aims to improve the health and wellbeing of local residents and to help tackle the challenge of childhood obesity.

It does this operating a series of running events across the North West with all profits donated to community groups and local charities in the towns and cities where these events take place.

You can find out more about The Running Bee Foundation and sign up to one of our events at www.sportstoursinternational.co.uk/sportstours-event-categories/running-bee-foundation

The Anthony Seddon Fund was set up in June 2014 by Donna Thomas and her husband Brian after the loss of their son, Anthony, to offer support for those with mental health issues in Tameside.

The fund’s volunteers work tirelessly to support those affected by mental health issues, their families, friends and carers in Tameside by promoting their physical and mental health through support, education, practical advice and signposting to other local services

The post The Anthony Seddon Fund launches new LGBTQ+ support group in Tameside, with support from The Running Bee Foundation appeared first on Sports Tours.

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