Fiona Martin, Aramark divisional director, said: “This partnership has brought our teams together with purpose. The creativity, compassion, and commitment shown by our colleagues is a testament to how deeply we care about the wellbeing of young people. We’re proud of what we’ve achieved so far with YoungMinds and excited to continue making a difference.”
And Emma Bennett, partnerships officer at YoungMinds, added: “We’re incredibly grateful to Aramark UK for their continued support. Their fundraising efforts and awareness initiatives have helped us reach more young people and build a stronger movement for mental health.”
Operating across universities, colleges, state and independent schools, as well as healthcare facilities nationwide, Aramark’s Education & Health division partnered with YoungMinds in recognition of the mental health challenges young people face, many of which are witnessed first-hand by frontline teams.
Fiona Martin said the partnership reflected Aramark’s commitment to supporting the well-being of the communities it served, with a focus on awareness-raising and impactful fundraising.
Over the past year, Aramark staff at the sites have:
- Point-of-sale fundraising: A ‘Shot of Kindness’ coffee campaign, donating 20p from every cup sold across retail outlets
- On-site events: Regular cake sales and themed activities across education sites
- Colleague challenges: From a Snowdonia trek to virtual walking challenges and festive raffles
“These efforts have helped fund YoungMinds’ campaign workshops, expand digital support services, and maintain helpline capacity. All contributing to resources that provide critical support to young people and their families during mental health crises,” she said.
Looking ahead, she added, that Aramark planned to expand its YoungMinds activity in year two of its partnership with enhanced awareness campaigns, increased colleague engagement, and continued fundraising efforts.