THE Butterfly Effect Wellbeing, a Harlow based charity which helps to support mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing on a holistic level in a friendly environment, has been named as one of the four beneficiaries of a big local employer’s new Community Fund.

As part of the new Cadent Foundation Community Fund launch, over 850 employees from Cadent, which manages the East of England’s gas distribution, were asked to nominate a local charity they wanted to help fundraise for throughout the year, with the chosen charities also benefitting from an initial share of a £20,000 pot of money.

Butterfly Effect Wellbeing is a non-judgmental charitable organisation which helps support people with mental illness and suicidal ideation. It is here to help, listen, guide and signpost. While it is not clinically qualified, all staff and volunteers are trained in mental health first aid and suicidal awareness and are able to help guide people and keep them safe for now. 

Butterfly Effect Wellbeing, which many will recognise from its appearance on BBC’s DIY SOS last December, helps support people while they wait for other services to fill that much needed gap. There are lots of groups and activities daily at the centre to join in with and the kettle is always on for those who want a cup of tea and a chat.

Four charities have been chosen from across the network with the others being The Nest Farms in Suffolk, Amber’s Army in Horsford, and Finnbar’s Force in Hethersett. 

All the chosen charities benefit from an initial donation of £5,000, then Cadent employees will continue to fundraise for these charities throughout the year, increasing the funding pot and volunteering for the charity too.   

Ranjit Blythe, Managing Director of the Cadent Foundation explained: “Earlier this year, employees at Cadent were asked to nominate their favourite charity, a local charity they could support throughout the year, through fundraising as well as volunteering. We wanted our employees to choose local charities that meant something to them and are important to their local community.

“Each regional network will get a starting pot of £20,000 to split amongst their chosen charities. Employees can then fundraise additional money for their charities and earn a bonus from the Foundation at the end of the financial year.” 

Angela Hannibal, Trustee at Butterfly Effect Wellbeing, said: “We are so grateful to be chosen as one of Cadent’s supported charities. We are mainly self-funded and rely on the good will of our supporters and local companies. Without this support we could not continue the good work we do at the bungalow, to support those with mental ill health and suicidal thoughts.”