Our Partners
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As partners of our ‘Sticks and Stones’ campaign, the organisations below are committed to helping us show that there is no place for stigma and discrimination in our modern, inclusive society.
Right Here – A Voice and choice for our Mental Health
The Right Here project has joined forces with the Sticks and Stones campaign to help stamp out the stigma surrounding mental ill health and learning disabilities.
Project Manager, Susan Blishen, signed the pledge on behalf of the project’s 150 staff and volunteers, officialising the corporate partnership between Right Here and the Sticks and Stones campaign. Right Here is a joint venture between the Mental Health Foundation and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, which aims to radically change the way we look after the mental health of young people aged 16-25.
“We are delighted to support the work that the Sticks and Stones campaign is doing to reduce mental health stigma and discrimination, particularly in schools,” says Susan Blishen.
Read more about the Right Here project on our news page
Warrington and Halton hospitals
Warrington and Halton hospitals have signed their 3,900 staff to a petition aiming to stamp out stigma against people with mental ill-health.
5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s campaign is trying to educate the public about the realities of learning disabilities and is asking them to make a pledge not to use words that can hurt or offend people suffering from these conditions.
Chief Executive Mel Pickup and Chairman Allan Massey welcomed the Trust’s Chairman Bernard Pilkington to Warrington Hospital where they signed the pledge board.
By signing up, people can actively show there is no place for discrimination in modern society.
Ms Pickup said: “We’re delighted to show our support for the campaign on behalf of the hospitals and play our part in stamping out stigma.”
Wirral Partnership Homes
WPH Chief Executive , Brian Simpson said ” The fact that one in four of our customers will experience mental ill health at some point in their lives makes this partnership vital in ensuring we offer the right support. WPH is proud to be joining the stamp out stigma campaign to put a stop to discrimination across Wirral.
INEOS ChlorVinyls, INEOS Enterprises and INEOS Technologies
We’re delighted to announce that INEOS ChlorVinyls, INEOS Enterprises and INEOS Technologies have become Corporate Partners our ‘Sticks and Stones’ campaign – signing today on behalf of their 1,370 employees. The organisations – all industry leaders in chemical manufacturing – are based in Runcorn, Halton. With their kind support we have now collected almost 88,000 signatures with just five weeks to go until our 12-month deadline!
Halton’s Riverside College
“As a college we are completely opposed to the use of any words which are hurtful or offensive to describe people with mental ill health or a learning disability,” says Principal, Mr Sheehan.
“By educating our young people about mental health, learning disabilities and the effects of stigma, we hope that they will become more compassionate, better informed members of society.
St Gregory’s Catholic High School & Cardinal Newman Catholic High School
“At both St Gregory’s and Cardinal Newman High Schools it is our aim to ensure that all students are able to reach their potential in all aspects of their development – Social, Academic, Emotional, Spiritual etc.. Therefore we are always anxious to remove any barriers that may hinder that development. The Sticks and Stones campaign fits well within that philosophy and we are therefore very happy to support the project and would encourage others to support it.”
Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA)
“The NWDA’s role is to maximise our region’s competitiveness to build a strong economy,” said Mr Nokes, Executive Director for Policy and Planning “As such we want the Northwest to be known for its positive, forward-thinking attitude which includes its commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We strongly believe that employees who have mental ill health deserve the same respect, understanding and support in the workplace as anyone else.”
Golden Gates Housing Trust
“As an organisation, we understand that those coping with mental ill health and learning disabilities not only have to deal with their condition but also face prejudice on a daily basis. Working closely with our local specialist mental health and learning disabilities service provider, we believe we can change the way we see, think and talk about mental health by addressing people’s fears, breaking down walls and stamping out the stigma.” Chief Executive, Peter Mercer
Read more about Golden Gates Housing support on our news pages
Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council
Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council has pledged to back ‘Sticks and Stones’ on behalf of its entire staff. 5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s Chairman, Bernard Pilkington, visited the Council’s headquarters at Wigan Town Hall on Monday 1 November. He met with the Council’s Chief Executive Joyce Redfearn; its Executive Leader Peter Smith and Councillor Keith Cunliffe – Portfolio Holder for Healthier Communities and Adult Services, to officially invite the organisation to become a Corporate Partner of the campaign. “As the local authority for Wigan we are proud to join the Trust in its fight against mental health and learning disability related stigma,” said Joyce Redfearn, Chief Executive.
Read more about Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council support on our blog pages.
Mencap
Mencap supports the 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK and their families and carers. Mencap fights to change laws and improve services and access to education, employment and leisure facilities, supporting thousands of people with a learning disability to live their lives the way they want. “Frankly I find it shocking that in today’s society people use language that is obviously offensive and upsetting to people with a learning disability. If we accept such language, we are saying we accept the complete disregard for people with a learning disability and paving the way to other forms of abuse and hate crime. We fully support the Trust and its attempts to challenge the stigma associated with mental health and learning disability.” Chief Executive, Mark Goldring.
Read more about Mencap’s support on our news pages.
Halton Borough Council
5,029 people work for Halton Borough Council, carrying out duties across a hugely diverse range of services. Including council employees on the petition has boosted the Trust’s pledge counter to more than 40,000. “Halton Borough Council is strongly committed to equality for all and very supportive of the Trust’s innovative ‘Sticks and Stones’ campaign. I am therefore happy to sign the pledge on behalf of all our staff. There is no place for stigma in our workplace or in the borough of Halton as a whole.” Councillor, Rob Polhill
Read more about Halton Borough Council’s support on our news page
Warrington Borough Council
“I am very happy to sign the petition on behalf of everyone in our employment. Doing so sends out a strong message that there is no place for stigma in our workplace or in the borough of Warrington as a whole. Using negative words to describe people who are mentally unwell is totally unacceptable. As an employer, we do not tolerate discrimination of any kind.” Councillor, Roy Smith
Warrington Wolves - Warrington Rugby League:
“This campaign sends out a really powerful message that the use of hurtful and offensive words to describe people with mental ill health and learning disabilities is unacceptable. As a team, we know the importance of working together to achieve a common goal. I hope that the people of Warrington will join together in helping the Trust in its cause.” Head Coach, Tony Smith
Read more about Warrington Wolves support on our news page.
Wigan Warriors - Wigan Rugby League:
“We have always been grateful to all our fans for their support, now we’re asking people to get behind a campaign that we believe in. People who are mentally unwell or who have learning disabilities deserve to live in a community that is understanding and tolerant. This is a campaign that has our full backing because as a club we do not tolerate discrimination of any kind.”
Head Coach, Michael Maguire.
Read more about Wigan Warriors support on our news page.
Saints - St Helens Rugby League:
“Signing this petition means that you are making a pledge not to use words that people with mental ill-health and learning disabilities find hurtful. This is a campaign that has the full backing of Saints because, as a club, we do not tolerate discrimination of any kind.”
Head Coach, Mick Potter.
Read more about the Saints support on our news page.
Wigan Athletic Football Club:
“Those who sign this form are making a commitment not to use derogatory words in describing people with mental ill-health and learning disabilities, and for that reason I am only too happy to sign up. I hope other people across Wigan will do the same and help the trust reach its target of 100,000 signatures. The initiative is one that aims to bring the whole community closer together and here at Wigan Athletic we know all about the power of collective support in reaching goals. I hope my name is the first of many.”
Wigan Athletic Football Club Manager, Roberto Martinez.
Read more about Wigan Athletic’s support on our news page.
Everton Football Club & The Everton Foundation:
“The Club takes the mental health of its players and that of the community very seriously, as demonstrated by the provision of weekly football coaching sessions to service users through The Everton Foundation’s Mental Health Programme, Imagine Your Goals.” Everton FC Captain, Phil Neville.
Read more about Everton FC’s support on our news page.
Find out more about the work of the Everton Foundation.
Wellbeing Project
“The Wellbeing Project is delighted to support the ‘Stamp out Stigma’ campaign being run by The 5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Here at the Wellbeing Project, we understand all too well the impact that stigma and discrimination can have on people who are experiencing mental health distress. We want to live in a world where all people feel supported and valued. For this to happen, we will all need to play our part in creating a more inclusive and accepting society, were people who are experiencing mental health problems feel supported, valued and are able to contribute. We pledge our support to this campaign. Let’s Stamp out Stigma!”
Mark Swift, Programme Manager.
Read more about the work of the Wellbeing Project.
Frank Bruno:
“Please support this and let’s draw attention to the fact people with mental health problems need help, not avoidance. Over the years mental health issues have been swept under the carpet, with lots of whispering behind closed doors. Let’s make a noise, create attention, tell the world it’s not a disease that can be caught off someone. Let the world show care and consideration quickly – let’s knockout the stigma of mental health issues, and for that you do not need to be a boxer!” Frank Bruno MBE
Interested in becoming a partner? Visit our Get Involved page
