There are dozens of ways an end of financial year donation help people with mental health challenges on their recovery journey.
This year, residents and staff at Mind’s youth residential rehabilitation service in Rosanna, Melbourne, are hoping a donation can help to upgrade their courtyard.
The courtyard is the service’s only outdoor space, but it has become run down over time and Apollo’s team leader Tyson Ree says fixing it is residents’ number one request.
Nico (20) is a resident there – he says he would love to help turn it into a space outdoors to enjoy, sit and read, chat and do some gardening.
“Some kind of good furniture, even just tables and chairs would be great, to sit and enjoy the outdoors,” he says.
“Being outdoors is good for the mind, good for the body, which is obviously important to us.”
Service Manager Lester Burford says small donations will be enough to buy some outdoor furniture and a few tools to fix up the space.
“Something like this makes a massive difference to the lives of the young people who access our services,” he says. “Making a space not only means something to them, but can be enjoyed by all future residents as well.”