LONDON (CelebrityAccess) — The Brit Awards announced a donation of £250,000 to Mind, The BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology and other mental health initiatives at an event at The BRIT School in Croydon, London.
Jason Iley, BRITs 2019 Chairman and Sony Music UK Chairman and CEO presented the donation during an event hosted by The BRIT School Principal Stuart Worden. Worden was joined by Mind’s Director of Networks and Communities Karen Mellanby, Music Support MD Eric Mtungwazi, Principal of East London Arts and Music (ELAM) School Mik Nelson, Urban Development Director Pamela McCormick and Music for Mental Health founder Laura Westcott, and included three BRIT School student performances; a musical number by a choir of 75 Year 12 students, a spoken word reading by DeAndre Bondzie and a drama piece by Saskia Moon and Tatiana Wortley.
“There is so much to be gained from investing in the mental health of future generations. I’m delighted that The BRIT Trust Charity is once again in a position to make a donation to such a worthwhile and significant cause. I hope that the continuation of our investment will keep this important issue at the top of the cultural and political agenda,” Iley told the audience.
Former Brit rapper Loyle Carner was also on hand for the event, and made a short address, having spoken out regularly about mental health awareness and well-being. A champion of various mental health charities and initiatives, Loyle also runs a cooking school for aspiring teenagers with ADHD.
“The BRIT School really helped me and took the time to understand my ADHD. The counseling I received during my time at school changed my life. It’s really important that young men and women have a space to talk about how they feel without being judged or embarrassed because being a human being isn’t easy. The music industry needs to help people understand the vulnerability of successful artists…you can have everything, but also lose everything,” Loyle said.
Further funds will be distributed to Music Support, ELAM, Urban Development and Music for Mental Health to support their individual mental health well-being initiatives.
