Having already raised €53,000 with the help of Lidl’s local Corkonian customers, the retailer has committed to raise an additional €250,000 to fund nationwide accessibility of the One Good School™ Programme and other Jigsaw services

As speculation grows around next week’s 2021 Budget announcement and what Government funding will be allocated towards much needed Mental Health services, Lidl Ireland have announced a 1-year extension of their charity partnership with Jigsaw – The National Centre for Youth Mental Health. The retailer’s initial 3-year partnership with Jigsaw will now continue until February 2022 to support the mitigation of the impacts that the COVID-19 Pandemic is having on the mental health of youths in Cork and across Ireland.

Having already raised €53,000 in Cork stores to date, Lidl Ireland have increased their national fundraising commitment to Jigsaw from €1 million to €1.25 million to fund virtual accessibility of the One Good School™ initiative for 9 secondary schools throughout Cork and other Jigsaw Cork services and supports.

According to national research, Ireland’s ‘mental health services are facing a huge escalation of mental health need’. The impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic are thought to have a long lasting effect on the collective mental health and well-being of Ireland’s young people, particularly as they adjust to their new schools, community environments and developing Government restrictions. Research shows that adequate resourcing of mental health services will be fundamental to meet demand.

To mark World Mental Health Day on Saturday, 10th October and to raise vital funds and awareness of mental health, Lidl Ireland have launched a dedicated Jigsaw flower bouquet with €1 from every bouquet sold being donated to Jigsaw. The limited-edition flower bouquet is available in all 22 Lidl stores in Cork and nationwide now until Sunday, 11th October for just €4.99 each.

Commenting on today’s announcement, Dr. Joseph Duffy, Jigsaw’s CEO said:

Lidl’s support over the last 3 years has been game changing for our organisation. Their support has enabled us to launch more initiatives, reach more young people and offer more in terms of mental health services to thousands of young people, parents and educators across the country. For more than 14 years, Jigsaw has supported young people aged 12 – 25 across Ireland to advance their mental health. From the start of this public emergency, we were adamant this would not change. COVID-19 has been the catalyst for fresh thinking and has accelerated our plans. We are incredibly grateful to Lidl for their continued support enabling us to achieve those plans.

Acknowledging that up to 60% of young people in Ireland with mental health problems do not seek professional help, CEO of Lidl Ireland, J.P. Scally spoke to the partnership extension, saying;

Following a successful 3 years of partnership with Jigsaw, we are delighted to announce the extension of our partnership for another year. The past couple of months have been challenging for all of us but through virtual mental health services, such as the One Good School™ initiative, we can support each other and empower the adults of Ireland to better support the young people in their lives and encourage young people themselves to seek help where needed. Lidl is as proud as ever to be a part of that!

Notes:

• Jigsaw is the National Centre for Youth Mental Health in Ireland. Since their establishment in 2006, Jigsaw have directly supported over 38,000 young people and offered supports to over 250,000 in schools, communities, workplaces, clubs and more across Ireland. More information on Jigsaw is available HERE.
• Lidl Ireland partnered with Jigsaw in 2018 pledging to fundraise €1 million over the 3 year partnership and to spread vital awareness of youth mental health in Ireland. More information on Lidl Ireland’s partnership with Jigsaw is available HERE.
• Information on the One Good School™ initiative is available HERE. Lidl Ireland’s €250,000 donation will help fund the digitalisation of the programme enabling nationwide access.
• Jigsaw’s 2019 annual report is available HERE, with facts and figures on youth mental health from the year gone by.
• Research from the Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine on Mental Health Impacts of COVID-19 in Ireland and the Need for a Secondary Care, Mental Health Service Response available HERE.
• Research-based RTE article on the impacts of Covid-19 Pandemic on young adults’ mental health in Ireland is available HERE.
• The Jigsaw bouquet initiative follows several fundraisers driven by Lidl teams throughout the country during the nationwide lockdown, including a virtual KM challenge which saw Lidl employees get active to raise €17,500 for Jigsaw over just 5 days as well as the Lidl Time Capsule book which was sold in Lidl stores nationwide during lockdown as a unique way to support customers and to raise more than €75,000 for Jigsaw at the same time.
• The Cork-based schools that are participating in the 2020/2021 One Good School™ initiative include Carrigaline Community College, Colaiste Choilm, Colaiste na Toirbhirthe, Cork Life Centre, North Monastery CBS, Pobalscoil na Trionoide, Presentation College Listowel, Presentation College Mardyke and Terrence Macswiney Community College.

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