UK Mental Health, Youth Education Charities Receive Grants
With five grants totaling £23,885, HDR employees demonstrated their commitment to improving their communities through support of mental health charities and educational youth activities.
Each grant is sponsored by an employee with a passion for the charity receiving support.
Catherine Green, employee relations specialist, sponsored a grant to Stop. Breathe. Think., which provides free online counselling to young people ages 8 to 21.
“I’ve seen how mental health challenges can deeply affect individuals, and I’ve also witnessed the power of timely support,” Green said. “Accessing mental health care privately often means faster treatment, but not everyone has that option. This grant will help young people in crisis access vital support without the wait, and that is something truly amazing.”
A second grant involving mental health will support the Herts Mind Network's Growing People program, a horticultural therapy project for people living with mental ill health.
Also receiving employee-driven support is Behind Every Kick, a charity that helps teens develop essential life and career skills through the lens of sport and elite sports psychology.
“The funding will unlock life-changing opportunities for up to 40 students, helping them build confidence, resilience and career skills through a proven, sport-based development program,” said Mike O'Mahony, HDR commissioning managing director and grant sponsor.
A grant to Oasis Community Hub will provide supplies for cookery, arts and crafts, sports and activities equipment, and first aid for a youth center serving a disadvantaged community in South Bristol, while Legacy Youth Zone will receive a grant for a hands-on cooking, nutrition education and kitchen safety program.
“The moment I walked into the center and saw the smiles on the faces of hundreds of children, I knew Legacy Youth Zone is making a meaningful impact in the community,” said Ghada Elsheikh, HDR associate and employee sponsor. “I am proud to be part of a company that enables us to give back to the community through schemes like this.”
Read more about the latest grants.
About the HDR United Kingdom Fund
Funded and driven by HDR employees, the HDR United Kingdom Fund is a charitable fund held with the London Community Foundation, dedicated to serving communities across the U.K. in which our employees live and work. Modeled after the U.S.-based HDR Foundation, the HDR United Kingdom Fund provides grants to organizations that align with HDR’s areas of expertise: education, healthy communities and environmental stewardship. Since its inception in 2022, the HDR United Kingdom Fund has awarded more than £90,000 in grants.
About HDR
HDR is a 100% employee-owned professional services firm. Founded over a century ago to bring electricity to a changing world, we are now a global company specializing in architecture, engineering, environmental and construction services. Our success in built and natural environments continues as we collaborate to solve our clients’ and communities’ most complex challenges.
