Recognising that the stigma around mental health still exists, and that community resilience is low, Coventry & Warwickshire Mind are aiming to raise funds to provide a Mental Health First Aider in as many community venues as possible, such a pubs, restaurants, social clubs and community groups.

Most clients tend to purchase a whole cohort of 16 places, however Coventry & Warwickshire Mind recognise that this is not feasible for smaller organisations, businesses and groups and are hoping to provide individual funded places wherever they can.

Mental Health First Aid, designed and regulated by MHFA England, is a 2-day course designed to increase awareness and understanding, reduce stigma and improve confidence in having conversations around mental health.

In 2023, 5579 suicides were registered in England. Just feeling confident to have a non-judgmental chat about someone’s mental health can be life-saving, so the aim is to get the information and practical knowledge out to the community to support more local people.

Crowdfunding is a new avenue for Coventry & Warwickshire Mind, which usually receives its funding from contracts and direct donors/fundraisers.

Nikita Giles, Senior Trainer at Coventry & Warwickshire Mind, said: “We are aware that mental health generally has taken a dip, post-Covid and with the cost of living crisis, and we want to make sure that everyone in the community is supported.

“We have provided Mental Health First Aid for a number of years, but this is one way to ensure that the knowledge and skills are embedded across our local community.

“By providing 32 extra Mental Health First Aiders, we hope that we can help our community become more resilient and reduce the stigma around mental health, which will save lives in Coventry & Warwickshire.”

To find out more about the project or get involved, please visit:

Help us train 32 Mental Health First Aiders for local community venues! - CWMind