Nexus employees raise almost £7,000 for mental health charity

James’ Place offer free, lifesaving therapy to suicidal men at centres across England. Their Newcastle centre supports men across the North of England.

The money was officially handed over at a cheque presentation at the charity’s Newcastle centre on Thursday 23 April.

James’ Place Fundraising Manager, Ashleigh Dixon, was joined by Michael Hunt from Nexus who has been heavily involved in fundraising. 

Michael said: “Nexus is a member of the Manbassador programme, which is an ongoing workplace wellbeing initiative, to help support male employees with their physical and mental health. Supporting James’ Place was the perfect fit with that. 

“We co-ordinated regular activity challenges which all employees could get involved in, such as walks and football tournaments. Attendees donated to James’ Place while also taking part in activities that benefit their mental and physical health.”

Nexus operates and manages Tyne and Wear Metro, the Shields Ferry and some bus services and Interchanges. They employ 1200 people at locations across Tyne and Wear. 

Ashleigh Dixon, Fundraising Manager for James’ Place said: “We’re really grateful for support from all the team at Nexus. It has helped us raise awareness of our life-saving work amongst the men who work at Nexus, as well as raise vital funds enabling us to support men in suicidal crisis when they need it most. Men can refer themselves to James’ Place for help, or you can refer someone you are worried about at jamesplace.org.uk” 

Cathy Massarella, Managing Director at Nexus, said: “I’m really am so proud of our teams who have spent the last year raising this fantastic sum of money for James’ Place.

“We’ve got a lot of men working for us, and as well as raising money to support this charity, it’s helped us to open up conversations and create opportunities for our male workforce to talk about mental health, and I hope that continues even as our corporate partnership is ending. 

“Every year we ask our colleagues to nominate and vote on what charity they would like to support corporately, which means we’re always supporting causes that are closest to their hearts.” 

Funds were raised via a range of methods, including raffles, coffee mornings and quizzes plus employees took on various challenges, including the Great North Run, a 100km bike ride and a month-long walking challenge. 

James’ Place have treated over 5,100 suicidal men since 2018 at their centres in Newcastle, Liverpool and London. 

The charity was founded by the parents of James Wentworth-Stanley, a University of Newcastle student who took his own life in 2006. His parents, Clare and Nick, were determined to prevent other families from losing loved ones and set up James’ Place to provide support for men in suicidal crisis whose needs are not met by existing services.

The first James’ Place opened in June 2018 in Liverpool, the first of its kind in the UK. Newcastle was the third centre, opening in 2024. All money raised by Nexus will be used by the Newcastle centre to support their day-to-day work in supporting local men in crisis.