Project Lily’s “Hugs” - Making A Difference
Project Lily was launched in 2017 to help those in the Jewish community facing the devastating impact of mental health and wellbeing challenges. Since then, Project Lily’s unique “Hugs” have made a huge difference to thousands of people.
Our maxim is “Everybody stumbles sometimes – we’re there so they don’t fall.” which reflects our rapid response and preventative approach.
We face so many challenges; the barrage of distressing news from Israel, rising antisemitism, social and economic volatility, as well as all the ‘usual’ struggles that affect us all, like illness, bereavement, or financial struggles.
In response we work through 2 channels:
1) Jewish Communal Partners:
2) The wider Jewish public
Our Three Types of “Hug”: Train. Support. Treat.
Our 3-part approach enables rapid interventions that prevent escalation of issues and address more intensive cases with immediate referrals and appropriate therapy.
Training: Our free CPD accredited training equips trainees to rapidly identify and respond to their own, or other people’s, common mental health and wellbeing issues such as Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Trauma and PTSD. (Our research shows that for each person we train, three preventative interventions take place within 12 weeks.)
In addition to our communal partner organisations, we have trained individuals from a further 94 Jewish communal organisations.
Support:Our trainees’ early interventions, combined with support casework, counter the escalation of mental health and wellbeing issues. In addition, Clinical Team oversight identifies cases needing intensive treatment.
Treatment: For our Communal Partners, we initiate assessment of more intensive cases within 24 hours. These are referred for therapy which we subsidise for those in need (- an average of £500 per referral).
Making an Even Bigger Impact
Our Big Hug campaign is the key to continuing and expanding our life-changing work. In the coming year, in addition to all our existing activity, we’ll be:
But we can only do this with your help…
Please Help: We Need Your Hug!
Our 2-day Big Hug campaign has to meet its ambitious target by 10pm this Monday!
We need you to please donate whatever you can - no amount is too small – with every single donation doubled by our amazing Big Hug match funders.
We are determined to help the many people in our community who are suffering. Your donation will change people’s lives. Please help.
