2019 GSK IMPACT Award winner!
Grassroots has been recognised for enabling communities to have conversations that save lives.
Grassroots has been selected from more than 370 organisations across the UK as one of 10 winners of the 2019 GSK IMPACT Awards for outstanding contributions to improving the UK’s health and wellbeing.
Each winner receives £30,000 towards reaching their charitable goals and the overall winner will be announced at the GSK IMPACT Awards ceremony at The Science Museum, in London on 16 May 2019.
The GSK IMPACT Awards provide funding, training and development for charities doing excellent work to improve people’s health and wellbeing. They are funded by GSK and managed in partnership with The King’s Fund.
Grassroots works to prevent suicide by reducing stigma and helping people in the community to start conversations and support people around them. Through having real talk about suicide, you, or your friend or colleague, can make a difference to someone’s life. You don’t need to be a health care professional to help, anyone can use real talk. It takes courage, but it’s the courage we all have.
Stella Comber, Chief Executive of Grassroots Suicide Prevention, said:
“Suicide is an issue that affects us all. It comes into our lives uninvited and leaves individuals and whole communities devastated. Our approach is built on the belief that suicide is preventable, and that we can all make a difference by having open and courageous conversations. We need everyone to know that while thoughts of suicide can feel overwhelming, they will pass, and recovery is possible. This is at the heart of everything we do and everything we believe.”
NHS statistics estimate that one in every 15 people has made a suicide attempt and it is the leading cause of death in men under 50. Currently the suicide rate is 50% higher in Brighton and Hove than the average for England.
Lisa Weaks, Head of Third Sector at The King’s Fund, said:
“Grassroots is a small charity which is having a big impact. By tackling the stigma surrounding suicide and helping people in the community to spot the signs and offer support to those around them, Grassroots has begun to change the conversation and make sure that help is there for people when they need it the most.
“The judging panel were impressed the charity’s innovative app, which has been used by tens of thousands of people, and the excellent work they are doing to connect people with other charities, crisis centres and the NHS.”
Here’s to our ChangeMakers, we’re all making change within our communities through Real Talk.
You can watch a short 30 second clip about the GSK Impact Awards here.
Thank you to GSK and The King’s Fund.
Full length video and behind the scenes photos coming soon.