10 November 2008
Melanie C is supporting Girlguiding UK members all over the country as they take part in the Friendship Challenge in aid of the Mental Health Foundation - in a bid to stop girl-on-girl bullying.
For girls and young women, healthy friendships help to keep them mentally well and boost their self-esteem. But not all friendships are good for a girl’s emotional wellbeing, and research shows that some types of bullying are more common among girls than boys.
With the help of Girlguiding UK members, the charity hopes to raise awareness about girl-on-girl bullying and any money raised will go towards ground-breaking research to find out why it happens and how to put a stop to it.
Girls and young women taking part in the Friendship Challenge will learn how to develop and maintain healthy friendships through a range of fun activities, and will be encouraged to reach out to other young people in their communities who may be lonely. There is also an opportunity to enter a national jewellery design competition and the winning design will be made into a real piece of jewellery!
Melanie C said:
“I’m really glad to be supporting the Friendship Challenge. Bullying leads to people feeling sad and lonely and so the sooner we can put a stop to it, the better.”
Celia Richardson, Campaigns Director at the Mental Health Foundation, said:
“We are delighted that Melanie C is lending her support to the Friendship Challenge to highlight the importance of good friendship. Bullying is a problem that many girls and women living in Britain experience and it can have lasting negative effects on an individual’s emotional wellbeing and self-esteem.”
The Mental Health Foundation, which works to help everybody enjoy good mental health, is one of 19 charities working in partnership with Girlguiding UK as part of the Girlguiding UK: Changing the World project. To find out more about the Friendship Challenge, visit www.girlguiding.org.uk/changingtheworld
Ends
Notes to Editors
For further information, please contact the Mental Health Foundation’s press office team on 020 7803 1130/1128
The Mental Health Foundation uses research and practical projects to help people survive, recover from and prevent mental health problems. We work to influence policy, including government at the highest levels. And we use our knowledge to raise awareness and to help tackle the stigma attached to mental illness. We reach millions of people every year through our media work, information booklets and online services. Registered Charity No: 801130, www.mentalhealth.org.uk
Girlguiding UK is the UK’s largest voluntary organisation for girls and young women, with around 575,000 members and recognised volunteers. One in four eight-year-old girls is a Brownie and almost half of all the women in the UK have been involved in guiding at some stage in their lives. We run Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Senior Section, enabling girls and young women to develop their potential whatever their ability or background. We are striving to offer new opportunities to a broad diversity of communities through our expanding network of 60,000 trained volunteer Leaders.
At Girlguiding UK we seek to give girls a voice and provide a unique, girl-only space where members feel comfortable just being themselves. Our members, challenged by a girl-led programme that extends beyond badges, enjoy a spectrum of activities from outdoor adventure to pop-concerts to community action.
Girlguiding UK, part of a worldwide Movement of approximately 10 million girls and young women in 145 countries, launches its Centenary celebrations in September 2009. Registered Charity No: 306016, www.girlguiding.org.uk
Back to News Releases 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
