Big Give raises record £2.1m for mental health charities

BIG Give’s Kind²Mind campaign has achieved a remarkable milestone by raising over £2 million (including Gift Aid) to support 160 vital mental health charities. This achievement marks a 33% increase in funds raised compared to 2023 and underscores the critical importance of the work these charities do.

Running from May 14th to May 28th, and coinciding with the UK’s Mental Health Awareness Week, this was the third consecutive year the campaign has been held. The campaign garnered over 5,500 public donations and leveraged £1.2 million in match funds. By uniting a community of generosity, Big Give amplifies the impact of every contribution, effectively doubling the benefit to participating charities.

Mental health challenges affect an ever-growing proportion of the population, with a 70% increase in people suffering from mental health challenges since 2020. Many of these individuals silently struggle with unseen or unspoken mental health challenges, making the support provided by Kind²Mind vital. The funds raised will bolster the efforts of participating charities in addressing, preventing, researching, and treating mental health.

The charities involved face unprecedented demand for their services. The money raised through the campaign will provide critical support, doubling the public’s donations and impact through match funding from philanthropists, foundations, and companies.

The campaign also received endorsements from high-profile celebrity supporters, including Ruby Wax, ambassador for Big Give and founder of Frazzled Café; Briony May, ambassador for Bristol Mind; Leah Charles-King, ambassador for Bipolar UK; and Rachel Kelly, ambassador for Rethink Mental Illness, SANE, The Counselling Foundation, and Head Talks.

Big Give, the UK’s leading match-funding charity, continues to demonstrate the power of collective generosity. Through campaigns like Kind²Mind, they strive to make a significant difference in the lives of those affected by mental health challenges.

James Reed CBE, Chair of Trustees for Big Give, said: 

“Once again we have hit our campaign target thanks to the generosity of our champion match funding partners and the public. The funds raised will make a tangible difference to the charities that took part and will enable them to carry on providing the vitally important care and services to an ever-growing number of people in the community.”