As part of its ongoing commitment to local communities, the Resapol Foundation has donated £1,000 to Red Balloons, a Stockton-based charity supporting mental health and well-being
Who are Red Balloons?
Red Balloons was established in 2017. Inspired by a blog written by their founder, Claire, sharing her personal journey with mental health challenges. She went on to start offering Peer Support face-to-face and was joined by a small group of Volunteers. Walk and Talk groups started in Stockton in 2019 with groups offered in Ropner Park and Preston Park.
During Covid, the online services grew; as a result, they started a messaging service via Facebook to offer support. Red Balloons became a Registered Charity 4 years ago and have been able to develop, recruit staff and volunteers and offer more services. This includes 8 walk and talk groups a week, various peer support groups. They continue to offer a 12-hour per day messaging service 7 days a week for those who need someone to talk to. In 2024 they proudly supported 385 individuals with their mental health. Such an incredible achievement is one of the reasons the Resapol Foundation is pleased to support them.
Why did our Stockton depot choose them?
Red Balloons was put forward for a donation by Martyn Harrison, the Stockton depot Ambassador. He commented “Red Balloons were started to promote how exercise can help manage your physical and mental health. Personally, I have always found distance running a great stress reliver, as well as helping me stay fit.
Part of their mission is to raise awareness of mental health and normalise it. I’m sure we all know someone who has suffered whether temporarily or long term, who may need support at some time in their lives. They also look to reduce loneliness and isolation. Something we can all help neighbours, friends etc who have lost someone, to be there as a shoulder.”
How will the donation help?
The £1,000 donation from the Resapol Foundation will go towards improving the wellbeing of community members. Red Balloons commented:
“We are so grateful to everyone at Resapol for this amazing donation. We are looking to offer our Red Balloons Community Members (service users) the chance to go on a Team Building Day and give them the opportunity to try survival fire lighting, human snake code breaker, axe throwing and other activities aimed at building outdoor confidence and team building. This will help to improve their overall wellbeing by reducing isolation, building relationships, learning new skills and giving them new experiences, they wouldn’t usually have access to”.
– Red Balloons
Red Balloons were presented with a cheque for £1000 by the Resapol Foundation representative Des Playfor and Stockton’s Ambassador Martyn Harrison.
The Resapol Foundation is dedicated to supporting local communities across the UK through a wide range of charitable initiatives. By offering financial assistance to impactful organisations and community projects, the Foundation strives to drive meaningful change at a local level.
To learn more about how the Resapol Foundation supports community development and charitable causes, visit the Resapol Foundation page.