London,
22
December
2014
|
17:06
Europe/London

Young men’s mental health service helped by City Bridge Trust grant

The City of London Corporation’s charity City Bridge Trust, has awarded Southwark- based charity, Working With Men (WWM) £145,700 to support its work on improving men’s mental health in Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster, and Hammersmith and Fulham.

As a specialist charity, Working With Men offers mental health support to boys and young men who face social and economic disadvantage or isolation. It also delivers training and consultancy for, suggesting approaches for tackling anti-social behaviour among young men. The key aim of the charity’s work is to help at-risk groups to achieve their full potential and become productive and active members of society.

A report from the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) showed that men accounted for 77% of suicides, and suicide is the single biggest killer of men aged under 35. Working With Men operates within this context and supports positive male activity, engagement and involvement. This grant from City Bridge Trust will be used to fund a full-time caseworker for three years, who will work with agencies and health professionals to deliver both intervention and prevention services for 100 young men aged 13 – 25. This is part of a drive to reduce the risk of mental illness and tackle suicide rates. In addition, ten young men will be encouraged to take on a community education/engagement role to share their experience.

Shane Ryan, CEO of WWM, said:

“There is clear evidence that shows many young men are suffering adverse outcomes in aspects of psychological well-being. Unfortunately, male depression is often seen as a sign of weakness and as something that can be overcome without assistance. Men appear to be more resistant than women to seeking help from others, but services are often also resistant to working with them. With the help of City Bridge Trust, we will support more young men on the margins.”

DG (name has been abbreviated to protect anonymity of interviewee), 17, from Westminster, said:

“Working with Paul Campbell (Service Development Manager of WWM) has helped with my life, which was going completely downhill. I was stuck with no job and no college but just a prison sentence in front of me, and all the stress killing me mentally. Getting into a college and doing forensic science has helped me so much and helped me tackle all of the stress that comes with it. He's supported me to become a better person and think more wisely about my future, and not just about today. Without Paul I’d probably end up in prison and, if it wasn't for him, I definitely wouldn't be in college.”

Jeremy Mayhew, Chairman of the City Bridge Trust, said:

“Men’s mental health problems are often being hidden or ignored. Managing these difficulties early in life, especially during key life transitions, may help prevent the development of mental disorders and stop suicide. Working With Men provides crucial services to boys and young men with targeted and affordable treatment that responds to their needs. We believe that this work should continue, so that young men have appropriate care to improve their health and well-being.”

City Bridge Trust is the grant-making arm of Bridge House Estates, whose sole trustee is the City of London Corporation. It supports London’s charities and provides grants totalling around £15 million per year.

 

Notes to editors:

Media enquiries: Julie Zhu, Media Officer, City of London Corporation

T 020 7332 3451

E julie.zhu@cityoflondon.gov.uk

About the City of London CorporationThe City of London Corporation has three roles: we support London’s communities by working in partnership with neighbouring boroughs on economic regeneration and skills projects. The Corporation supports education - with three independent schools and three City Academies – plus a primary school and the world-renowned Guildhall School of Music and Drama. We also help look after key London heritage and green spaces including Tower Bridge, Museum of London, Barbican Arts Centre, City gardens, Hampstead Heath, Epping Forest, Burnham Beeches, and important ‘commons’ in south London. And – with its heart in London’s Square Mile - we also support and promote the ‘City’ as a world-leading financial and business hub, with outward and inward business delegations, high-profile civic events, research-driven policies and a long-term approach. See www.cityoflondon.gov.uk for much more on our uniquely diverse role, including the City of London Police, etc.

The City of London Corporation’s charity, the City Bridge Trust, makes grants totaling around £15 million annually to charitable projects across London. More information can be found at www.citybridgetrust.org.uk.