Fundraising for Shout: everything you need to know

Shout is the only free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone in the UK who is struggling to cope. We launched publicly in May 2019 and currently take around 2,000 conversations each day with people who are anxious, stressed, depressed, suicidal or overwhelmed and who need immediate support.

We provide a unique service for people who might have no other means of mental health support. In fact, more than half of our texters say they haven’t asked for help elsewhere.

Importantly, texting is a silent means of communicating, so those who are worried about someone overhearing them can still access vital support through Shout, at any time of day or night.

Where does the money go?

Thank you so much for supporting Shout. The funds that you raise will go towards providing discreet and confidential help for anyone who needs immediate support with their mental health.

• £10 can help someone in distress to access an hour of mental health support when they need it most
• £25 can fund a clinician to provide expert supervision of conversations on our digital mental health platform
• £250 can train a volunteer to take life-saving conversations with people needing immediate support

If you have any questions, you can email us at [email protected].

Fundraising ideas

There are endless ways to fundraise for Shout.

Whatever activity you choose, the best way to fundraise amongst your friends and colleagues is to set up a fundraising page with JustGiving, and we will receive the funds directly. You will be able to set your fundraising target and keep track of incoming donations.

Calendar ideas

There are many moments throughout the year which provide brilliant opportunities to fundraise. Here are some of the key moments we at Shout 85258 like to mark in our calendar, and which you could use to support us:

Let’s get physical

Exercise is an amazing way of lifting your mood and maintaining good mental health, as well as keeping physically fit. For you, it might look like signing up to a marathon or half marathon, challenging yourself to do a hundred burpees a day, or even hiking up a 5000m high mountain. Or maybe you'd do something even more extreme! Your fundraiser can look like anything that your friends and family know will be a challenge for you. Once you've decided, you can go ahead and set up your fundraising page.

Fancy something less strenuous?

24 hour challenge

Shout is available 24/7 and takes an average of 1,800 conversations every day. What could you achieve in that time? With a group of friends or colleagues, you could:

• Try to keep an activity going for 24 hours without stopping. It doesn’t have to be sport - it could a game or a conversation
• Set yourself a distance to cover, perhaps in an unusual way! Phones down While Shout is a text service, we know it’s not good to be on your phone all the time. How long could you go without yours? The longer the time, the more money you raise! Self-care It’s important to look after ourselves, and that applies to fundraisers too. We like these ideas that prioritise rest and wellbeing:
• Hold a ‘Come Dine with Me’ dinner party competition
• Plan a pamper night with donations made to attend •Mark out a day for self-care and encourage others to join you. Go for a walk together, take part in a class, or cook a nutritious meal while supporting Shout •Organise a book club, with small donations made for refreshments

Phones down

While Shout is a text service, we know it’s not good to be on your phone all the time. How long could you go without yours? The longer the time, the more money you raise!

Self-care

It’s important to look after ourselves, and that applies to fundraisers too. We like these ideas that prioritise rest and wellbeing:

• Hold a ‘Come Dine with Me’ dinner party competition
• Plan a pamper night with donations made to attend
• Mark out a day for self-care and encourage others to join you.
• Go for a walk together, take part in a class, or cook a nutritious meal while supporting Shout
• Organise a book club, with small donations made for refreshments