Preventing Crisis Before It Starts

Project Lily is a unique, preventative mental health and wellbeing charity serving the whole of the Jewish community. We intervene early - before challenges escalate into serious mental health crises. We do this by providing rapid, practical support, training, and treatment. Our approach is culturally sensitive, community-rooted, and proven to make a difference. Our approach is built on three pillars:

 1. Training:

• Free, CPD-accredited courses delivered by a BACP-qualified professional.
• Trainees learn to rapidly identify and respond to their own and others’ common mental health issues including stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, and more.

2. Support:

• Trainees’ early interventions, combined with our casework support, counter the escalation of mental health and wellbeing issues.
• Clinical Team oversight ensures therapeutic treatment needs are identified and get the right help.

3. Treatment:

• Assessment of cases referred by partner organisations is initiated within 24 hours.
• Those referred contribute what they can towards the cost; we subsidise the rest.

Project Lily supports the Jewish community, understanding the cultural and religious factors that can impact mental health and wellbeing. Our preventative approach fills a vital gap, ensuring people get help before they reach crisis point.

Why Now?

The need for Project Lily’s work has never been greater. Our community is facing unprecedented stress - a predominant factor in the onset of many mental illnesses:

• The cost-of-living crisis is pushing more families into distress.
• October 7th and the ongoing conflict in Israel have caused trauma and anxiety to soar.
• Antisemitism has risen sharply, leaving many feeling isolated and vulnerable.
• The NHS is overwhelmed, with waiting lists for mental health support at record highs.

Key Facts & Figures

• 98% of participants rate their training as ‘good’ or very ‘good’
• For every person trained, three preventative interventions occur within 12 weeks.
• Wide range of formal communal partnerships with e.g. GIFT, JLE, Resource, Seed, Work Avenue.
• Our Clinical Director is Jonathan Dove - a leading and highly respected Mental Health professional with 30 years’ experience.
• Rapid response: 1st therapy appointment within days vs NHS waiting times > 6 months
• Average therapy subsidy for those in need: £500 per referral.

What Makes Project Lily Different?

• Prevention First: Most charities focus on acute or chronic cases. Project Lily promotes and practices early interventions.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Deep understanding of the Jewish community’s needs.
• Working partnerships with communal organisations - maximises reach and avoids duplication.
• Evidence-Based: Interventions are clinically driven and impact-assessed.

Testimonials: Real Lives Changed (feedback from service users and trainees)

• “I’d like to thank Project Lily for helping me through one of the toughest times in my life. I genuinely believe I’d be very lost right now if I did not have Project Lily supporting me.”
• “Your help changed everything – thank you!”
• “The friendly and enthusiastic therapist support has been invaluable at this time.”
• “What I’ve learnt from you hasn’t just helped me; I’ve also been able to help other people too.”
• “I've often struggled with responding to someone in need. Now I have more confidence and skills. Thank you!”
• “This course has been invaluable to me as I have a friend who tried to commit suicide and has struggled ever since…”

Please Help: We Need Your Hug!

This campaign is the one time each year when instead of giving hugs we ask for one.

Our annual budget depends on the Big Hug campaign meeting its ambitious target.

Please donate whatever you can - no amount is too small – and every donation is doubled by our amazing Big Hug match funders.

The many people in our community who are suffering need our support.

Please help - your donation will change people’s lives.