Barclays Gives Generous Boost to Welsh Homelessness Charity Llamau

Barclays Bank has donated £100,000 to Llamau[i] which will go towards supporting its expert in-house counselling service in response to increased demand following the pandemic. This initiative offers essential support to mental health support services as part of Llamau’s work with young people and women facing or experiencing homelessness across Wales.

Llamau operates mental health support services as part of its work with young people and women facing or experiencing homelessness across Wales.

Coronavirus hit the young people and women Llamau supports particularly hard, revealing and magnifying stark inequalities around mental health. 90% already had a diagnosable condition pre-pandemic, with a survey conducted by Llamau’s in-house psychologists highlighting that mental health had worsened by a third (32%) following the first lockdown, increasing depressive symptoms and the risk of related issues such as self-harm/substance misuse.

The donation is part of the bank’s 100×100 UK COVID-19 Community Relief Fund[ii], that was established to offer 100 UK charities £100,000 each to support vital COVID-19 relief work in local communities.

The scheme has since expanded and has now given a donation to 250 charities.

Nigel Higgins, Barclays Chairman, said: “Our 100×100 charity partners have been working tirelessly to support vulnerable communities across the UK through what has been a difficult year. These charities have championed a range of causes, including tackling homelessness, food poverty or loneliness, and we are immensely grateful for their work in the communities in which we live and work.

While we emerge from the most acute stage of the crisis, the effects of the pandemic will continue to be felt by many. Our decision to extend our 100×100 Programme for a second time reflects this, allowing Barclays to support 250 UK grassroots charities in their crucial work in our local communities.”

Frances Beecher, Llamau’s CEO, said: “Llamau is delighted to have received a £100,000 donation of support from Barclays, enabling us to deliver our meaningful work across Wales.We are able to proactively identify and address emotional wellbeing issues amongst young people and women at the earliest opportunity, offering a timely, accessible and flexible range of needs-leds therapies to reduce existing and emerging inequalities. The funding enables Llamau to continue its vital mental health support services across Wales”.

Kevin Brennan MP for Cardiff West said ‘It’s laudable in these tough times that Barclays is supporting Llamau’s important work in mental health. Recent years have put a strain on everyone but particularly those most vulnerable facing homelessness. This funding to support counselling services will help Llamau to continue to provide invaluable support in our communities.’

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References

[i] https://homelessconnect.org

[ii] https://home.barclays/sustainability/supporting-our-communities/barclays-covid-19-community-aid-package/barclays-100×100-uk-covid-19-community-relief-programme/