venYou announces Lighthouse as 2024 charity partner

Premium serviced office and business workspace provider, venYou has announced Lighthouse as its charity partner for 2024. The company, which offers high specification office space, is hoping to highlight and raise awareness of the important work the charity is doing to prevent suicide and improve mental health across Belfast, whilst also helping to raise vital funds.

Since 2023, venYou has supported Lighthouse through participation in a number of fundraising initiatives across its Belfast City Centre based properties. This year however, it has committed to focussing all of its fundraising efforts over the course of the year on the charity.

Lighthouse was established in 2003 as a response to the exceptionally high incidences of suicide in North Belfast. The charity’s aim was and continues to be, ‘to save lives, offer advice, and support those affected by suicide and self-harm’, and as a result of the work it has conducted to date, it has now grown to serve all parts of Belfast.

Lighthouse is committed to tackling the issue of poor mental health in the city for the prevention of suicide and self-harm; the promotion of positive mental health and the provision of support services to families that have been bereaved due to suicide. Through the charity’s work, it hopes to reduce the stigma that is associated with mental illness by offering support to people who are struggling, and engaging in the conversation that surrounds the topic.

Client Services Director at venYou, Donna Linehan, said, “I am delighted that venYou has chosen Lighthouse as our charity partner for 2024, in support of the brilliant work it is doing in Belfast. Our team has been involved in several fundraising initiatives in support of the charity over the last year, and we are passionate about the charity’s mission, and the work it is doing to promote positive mental health and reduce the stigma that still surrounds it.

“As a serviced office provider, the health and wellbeing of our clients is at the core of what we do. By raising awareness of the charity’s work, we hope to play a small role in promoting positive mental health and encouraging people to speak out if they are struggling. We have a number of initiatives planned over the year to ensure we raise as much money as possible for this worthy cause.”

Statistics show that one in five adults in Northern Ireland have struggled with their mental health, with mental illness currently acting as the largest cause of disability in the region. By raising some much-needed funds, venYou hopes to increase the support that is available to those struggling with their mental health, as well as their friends and families.

In 2024, venYou will be hosting a number of events and fundraising activities to promote Lighthouse, starting with its annual St. Patricks Day party, where there will be an opportunity for clients to donate. Alongside this, donation boxes and QR codes will be located throughout venYou’s Scottish Provident location for the duration of the year for those who wish to donate.

For more information on Lighthouse’s work, or to make a donation, visit their website: https://lighthousecharity.com/.