In our ongoing mission to prevent young suicide across the nation, PAPYRUS is proud to collaborate with various corporate partners. These meaningful partnerships allow us to expand our reach, raise awareness, offer vital support to those in need and educate our communities on how we can work together collectively to prevent suicide.
Earlier this year, PAPYRUS proudly announced its new partnership with Wates Group.
Wates Group is a family-owned development, building and property maintenance organisation with offices across the UK. In their fourth generation of family ownership, the company has committed to long-term sustainability and to the improvement of the industry’s inclusion and representation amongst various communities. Wates’ endeavours have led to their commitment to support PAPYRUS in preventing young suicide. Our partnership began in May 2023 and shall continue over the next three years. Over the course of our partnership, PAPYRUS has committed to training 90 Wates employees to become charity champions, of which a large proportion will be under 35, as suicide is the biggest killer of individuals in this age group.
PAPYRUS Champions are an invaluable part of our team in raising awareness of suicide prevention. Our champions deliver short talks, known as SP-ARK sessions (Suicide Prevention – Awareness, Resource, Knowledge), within various communities. As Wates is a UK-wide organisation, by training individuals across their 19 offices, our message of hope has a far greater reach. This, in turn, contributes to the reduction of stigma and the creation of a suicide-safer society. PAPYRUS Champions continue to spread our message and utilise what they’ve learnt long after our partnership, ultimately creating a longstanding positive impact.
PAPYRUS has also committed to providing its two-day ASIST training (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) to 300 people within the local communities that Wates works within. These will be aimed at anyone who is regularly in contact with young people, such as teachers or youth club workers, and will equip them with the tools to spot suicidal invitations and support those struggling with their mental wellbeing.
Wates has ambitious fundraising goals, which will be of significant impact to PAPYRUS. Current targets are set at £225,000 across the three-year partnership, which will allow us to employ a minimum of one new Community Development Officer, one new HOPELINE247 advisor, and set up a new hub. Our hubs create a PAPYRUS presence in areas of the UK that do not yet have a local connection to our charity.
The organisation has already gotten stuck in and kicked off its fundraising efforts. Over the summer, Wates launched their Sky High Club, which invited employees to take part in an abseil, wing walk and/or a skydive to fundraise for us. In July, two Wates employees participated in our Liverpool Cathedral abseil, which was a brilliant success – despite the rainy weather! The pair raised almost £2,000, which is fantastic.
Not only is our partnership invaluable in supporting local communities, but it is also key in raising awareness of suicide prevention within the construction community, which forms a particularly important aspect of our partnership. For those working in the construction industry, the risk of suicide is 1.6 times higher than the national average – this is why it is so crucial for PAPYRUS to partner with industry experts like Wates, to educate and understand what we can do to facilitate positive change for those in this industry.
By sharing our resources, training community members, and working to improve our understanding of the factors contributing to this issue, our partnership shall be transformational to both PAPYRUS and suicide prevention within the construction industry.
Through our strategic partnerships with corporates, PAPYRUS continues to make a profound impact on preventing young suicide across the nation. These collaborations foster innovative solutions, expand our reach, and enhance our ability to support and guide those who need it most. By working together, we create stronger communities and a brighter future for everyone.
