STAFF from Bromsgrove District Housing Trust (BDHT) will be lacing up their running shoes in memory of a former colleague who took their own life last year and to raise funds for suicide prevention charity Papyrus.
The employees have committed to raising funds by embarking on the 5k run this Sunday, May 21, aimed at raising awareness of the charity’s suicide prevention work and to raise funds to support its schemes.
Papyrus Prevention of Young Suicide, is a UK charity dedicated to the promotion of positive mental health and emotional wellbeing in young people, with the goal of combating the reality that suicide is the biggest killer of people aged 35 and under in the UK.
BDHT CEO Graeme Anderson said: “We are proud to be participating in the Papyrus run and raising funds for such a vital charity.
“One of our colleagues tragically took their own life, and we want to do everything we can to prevent this from happening to others.
“We hope our participation in the Papyrus run will also help to raise awareness of the charity’s work to prevent young suicide.
“We hope to contribute to the charity’s mission of preventing suicide and promoting positive mental health.”
The Papyrus run is open to people of all levels and participants have the option to run, jog, or walk.
Papyrus was founded in 1997 by a group of bereaved parents who had each lost children to suicide and has since grown into a UK-wide organisation with offices in various regions across the country.
Papyrus’s suicide prevention helpline, HopelineUK, is staffed by trained suicide prevention advisors who provide confidential support to young people and anyone concerned about a young person.
BDHT owns or manages one in ten properties in the area, with a total of 4,060 properties in its portfolio, offered through social and affordable rent, market rent and shared-ownership new build schemes.
Alongside its role as a social housing provider, the trust aims to improve the communities it serves by working closely with partners, such as the council, police and residents and to provide secure and comfortable accommodation with a vision of safe and happy neighbourhoods.
