With cake sales, collections, lunches and Lent events, people across the diocese of Norwich raised a magnificent £16,415 for the Norfolk-based farming and rural mental health charity YANA (You Are Not Alone.)
The money will help fund its telephone helpline.
The Bishop of Norwich chose YANA for his Lent Appeal this year and presented the grand total to charity founder Melinda Raker and trustee Virginia Edgecombe.
The Bishop said: “Thank you to every single person who held an event, gave their time and money, collected donations or played any part in raising this wonderful sum for YANA. I am so pleased that the Diocese of Norwich is able to help its vital work, standing alongside people struggling with stress or depression and those caring for them.
“Farming can be difficult and lonely, beset by worry and subject to the increasing toll of climate change. Jesus knew the pressures of rural life. He spent a lot of time in the countryside and made his message relevant to his listeners by using images ranging from sowing seeds to shepherding.”
Virginia thanked the Bishop for choosing YANA for his Lent Appeal this year, and thanked all the parishes, groups and individuals who helped raise the money for their generosity.
“It’s a phenomenal result and we’re immensely grateful,” she said.
“Our helpline has been at its busiest ever over the last couple of months and so your support has come at the perfect time. These are testing times for the farming community and the outcome of the appeal is both heartwarming and moving. It really will help us in our efforts to save lives.”
YANA provides mental health support for people living and working in agricultural and rural communities and aims to prevent loss of life through suicide and Virginia said: “I have been reminded of the brilliance of the parish system and the ability that the Church has to reach the rural communities en masse – it’s quite something and very powerful.”
The round-the-clock confidential helpline now includes a manned service for three hours every weekday. Callers can talk to specially-trained responders between 10am and 1pm. At all other times they can leave a message and will be called back.
The charity also funds counselling sessions, which can be put in place quickly and have been called a ‘lifeline’ by clients. And it runs Mental Health First Aid courses, training people to recognise when those around them need help and to know how to have helpful conversations and direct them to appropriate support. Several members of clergy in Norfolk and Waveney have taken the Mental Health First Aid course, so that they can help if they come across parishioners who are struggling.
YANA was launched as the You Are Not Alone project by Norfolk farming charity The Clan Trust and is now a charity in its own right, working in rural communities across East Anglia.
For more information about YANA visit yanahelp.org
To contact its helpline call 0300 323 0400 or email helpline@yanahelp.org
