Beating the blues

October marked the two-year anniversary of our association with the Blues Programme, a charitable initiative run in partnership with Action for Children.

We fund the programme, which provides a six-week ‘blues busting’ course for teenagers aimed at reducing the signs of negative thoughts and making a positive impact on their mental health.

To date, the programme has been delivered in 116 schools across the UK, with money raised through the efforts of colleagues and our matched giving scheme.

Sandra Smith, charity champion for Dunfermline and Edinburgh West, threw herself into fundraising by doing an abseil off the Forth Rail Bridge, raising just under £1,000 in the process.

A fear of heights didn’t deter her taking on the 175ft drop down to the Firth of Forth.

‘It combined two of my biggest fears – heights and water,’ she said. ‘It was a double whammy.’

This year her region, East of Scotland, has raised £6,558 from a wide range of events, including bake sales and sponsored walks.

In 2018, fundraising champion for group procurement in the North, Mark Harris, and the group procurement team raised £11,734 for the Blues Programme. In 2019 so far, they have raised more than £8,000.

Fundraising activities included everything from a 12-hour rowathon and a summer solstice midnight walk, to cake sales and sweepstakes.

‘Action for Children does such great work in schools,’ said Mark. ‘It’s important we help children the best we can.’

To find out how you and your colleagues can get involved, please email RoyalMail@actionforchildren.org.uk