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ForrestBrown puts the fun into fundraising for Headlight

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Full house at Circomedia Bristol for charity quiz
In 2017, ForrestBrown has chosen to support the Headlight mental health charity.

Why we chose to support Headlight

Headlight is close to our hearts at ForrestBrown. Earlier this year, one of our colleagues tragically lost his beloved 23-year-old son, Max, after a battle with psychosis and an autism spectrum disorder. During his life, Max was supported by Headlight. Now a memorial fund has been set up in his name to support the fantastic work carried out by this charity.

To coincide with World Mental Health Day in October, team ForrestBrown undertook a series of events to fundraise in memory of Max and make a difference to other people living with mental health issues.

Part 1 – World Mental Health Day 2017

ForrestBrown doing Tai Chi on Clifton Down
Ele and cakes at charity bake sale for Headlight Mental Health Charity
Charity quiz at Circomedia Bristol
Man looks puzzled at charity quiz
Charity quiz aerialist on hoop at Circomedia
Charity quiz winning team Gregg Latchams with Headlight and ForrestBrown
Mind Matters charity quiz for Headlight raffle prizes

The theme for this year’s World Mental Health Day focused on mental health in the workplace. So we dedicated Tuesday 10 October 2017 to showing our support for better mental health and promoting wellbeing in the workplace. Here’s what we got up to…

Tai-Chi on Clifton Down

We started off the day with a Tai Chi session on Clifton Down – we weren’t put off by the drizzle! This session was organised by PA and administrator Michelle Lang. It gave us all a chance to come together before starting our working day, relax and clear our heads.

Take a cake and donate!

Tax isn’t all we excel at here at ForrestBrown – in fact, a few of the team are aspiring Bake-Off entrants. Ryan Davy, our partnership manager, organised a fantastic bake sale, offering biscuits, cakes and savoury treats to passers-by of our Whiteladies Road offices in return for a donation. The team braved the rain (again!) and managed to raise nearly £350.

Mindfulness

With the focus on this year’s World Mental Health Day being mental health in the workplace, we wanted to equip ourselves with the tools to handle daily stresses. We spent the afternoon learning about mindfulness; practicing being present and aware, and trying out practical tips.

Part 2 – Our Mind Matters not-a-pub quiz

We don’t like to do things by halves here at ForrestBrown, and were keen to make a real difference in supporting Headlight. To do so, we created a very special event: a ‘not-a-pub’ quiz and charity raffle called Mind Matters.

On Tuesday 17 October, more than 150 people from local businesses around Bristol joined us at the beautiful Circomedia (a contemporary circus space) for an evening of pies, pints and prosecco – and most importantly, quizzing! With legendary quiz master, Matt Bambery, 26 teams assembled with their wits sharpened to take on the competition.

Throughout the night, we were treated to an incredible aerial display, delicious Pieminister pies and a fantastically conceived quiz.

Gregg Latchams’ team finished the night with an impressive win and took home the coveted first prize, followed closely by RSM and then Synergy Creative.

To help boost our fundraising efforts, we asked friends of ForrestBrown to donate desirable raffle prizes that would make our guests want to donate to this important cause. We were blown away by the generosity of our clients, friends and partners – thank you to: Clifton Revolution, Mission Slimpossible, Williams Automobiles, Smoke and Salt, Purn Landscapes, Extract Coffee Roasters, Yurt Lush, Psychopomp, Kingscott Dix, Vintage Leather Satchel Company, On Point Copywriting, Papadeli, Kilver Court, Pukka Tea, Godminster, Gardens Group, Good Chemistry Brewing and NCJ Farriers. Here’s a shot of the raffle prizes…

The results

A brilliant night was had by all, and to top it off (along with our World Mental Health Day funds) we raised more than £7,000 for the Max McGhee memorial fund, part of Headlight mental health charity – Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust’s registered charity.

Specifically, this money will help to build a new sensory calm down room at Elizabeth Casson House, Callington Road Hospital in Bristol. Patients at this intensive psychiatric care unit require constant observation and this new space will provide a positive, viable alternative to restraint or seclusion.

Tia Shortall, fundraising manager for Headlight, said:

“Our thanks go to the McGhee family for helping us to make this possible. Max was clearly a remarkable young man and this fund will make sure that he continues to make a difference.”

Thank you

Thank you to everyone that took part in our charity efforts this year. We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of our clients, friends, partners and our local community. Together we have not only been able to fund raise in memory of Max, but also help make a difference to people living with mental health issues.

You can help us to support the Max McGhee memorial fund, part of Headlight mental health charity via our JustGiving page.