A FOUNDATION set up in the memory of a successful York entrepreneur who died following a long battle with mental health has received a welcome boost from a well-known firm.
The Charlie Dallas Lancaster Foundation (CDLF) has got £1,500 from local housebuilder Barratt Homes Yorkshire East, to support in raising awareness of mental health services for people in York and North Yorkshire.
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CDLF, a mental health charity dedicated to raising awareness and encouraging others to speak out about their own struggles, was set up after Charlie died in 2020, on what would have been his 39th birthday.
Afterwards his two sisters, partner and four friends set up the charity in order to continue his work and the legacy he left behind.
The charity was established in May 2021 with the aim of aiding individuals in need by financing therapy and counselling sessions, thereby enabling them to access the assistance they required. CDLF hosts annual charity balls with the dual purpose of generating funds not only for their own charity but also for supporting other organisations that also provide mental health support and services.
The Charlie Dallas Lancaster Foundation collaborates with various charitable organisations, including Mind York, Young Minds, Papyrus, Ripple, and Menfulness. These charities collectively strive to improve individuals' mental health, aligning with the foundation's core principles.
The donation was made in alignment with the Barratt Developments Community Fund, an initiative committed to supporting communities in the areas where the homebuilding company operates.
Victoria Taylor, Charlie's older sister and a foundation founder said: “We are immensely grateful for the kind contribution provided by Barratt & David Wilson Homes Yorkshire East. We set up this foundation to carry on the work Charlie was doing and his enduring desire to help others, so this recognition is extremely important to us.
“Thanks to their generosity, we are able to distribute more of our awareness boards. These boards are produced by the foundation and are distributed and displayed in various workspaces, education settings and NHS organisations signposting people to help and support.
“To date we have distributed 130 boards that detail local support services as well as supplying the reader with a QR code which takes people directly to help and support pages on our website. With the donation we are able to distribute even more, offering guidance to those who need it.”
Daniel Smith, managing director of Barratt and David Wilson Homes Yorkshire East, said: “We feel privileged to contribute to a charity that not only aids individuals in the local communities where we construct homes but also supports those within our own industry.
“We are dedicated to supporting community initiatives and are proud to contribute to their impactful efforts. Through this donation, our goal is to help the Charlie Dallas Lancaster Foundation provide essential services that make a meaningful difference in the lives of the individuals they assist.”
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