Car dealer renews charity partnership that will support the roll-out of a mental health initiative in schools across Northern Ireland using Lego-based play

Agnew Group is continuing its partnership with mental health charity, MindWise, which will see it support a drive to roll out a Lego-based play programme, Beyond Bricks, across 16 schools here. 

The renewed agreement between the car firm and the charity will also see 400 staff at Agnew Group benefit from Mental Health Awareness training.

MindWise will deliver the training, which will allow staff at Agnew Group to recognise and identify mental health illnesses, explore the impact of stigma as well as refine the customer experience to support clients’ mental wellbeing.

Agnew is also pledging to raise £50,000 for MindWise by the end of this year. Those invaluable funds will support the charity’s Beyond Bricks school programme — a Lego-based play which uses a ‘recovery to discover’ approach to enhance children’s overall mental health and wellbeing today and in the future. 

MindWise has already paired up with schools here to deliver the five-week initiative which will be co-facilitated by teachers at the respective schools. 

Speaking about the renewed partnership with MindWise, Agnew Group Managing Director, Yuile Magee, said:

“We are delighted to partner with MindWise for another year. Few households have been left untouched by mental health problems. The past few years of the pandemic and the current cost of living crisis have only served to exaggerate already present conditions. For us to be able to support a charity that delivers so many worthwhile programmes, and support systems for those affected, is a privilege. 

Christine Grant, Head of Marketing at Agnew Group, added:

“We too will benefit from the charity’s expertise and knowledge in the area of mental health as the team at MindWise support our 400 customer-facing staff in working with customers living with mental health conditions, as well as supporting their own team members and honing the skills to manage their own mental health.

“The Beyond Bricks programme is excellent, in that it reaches out to children in the early stages of life, to equip them with the right tools to navigate their own mental health. We are happy to contribute to that roll-out and wish the charity the very best with the delivery of the programme which aims to reach over 500 pupils.”

Anne Doherty, MindWise Chief Executive, said:

“We are delighted to have the Agnew Group support us this year. The business has such a huge imprint across Northern Ireland, which not only allows us to share our knowledge further but it helps us raise invaluable funds that make projects like Beyond Bricks a reality. 

“We are engaging with schools to promote the Beyond Bricks programme and we already have several schools interested and we are seeking more to participate. Without the support of our partners, these kinds of programmes would not be available. We look forward to working with Agnew Group throughout the year.”

Mrs Hilary Cunningham is the Principal at Fane Street Primary School in Belfast. It is one of the first schools to sign up for Beyond Bricks. Mrs Cunningham said:

“I am absolutely thrilled that children in Fane Street Primary School will have access to such a valuable and comprehensive programme.  Many of our children have endured a number of adverse childhood experiences and some have even had to flee their homes with nothing. 

“For children to be able to process their feelings and emotions in a safe, caring environment, in such a child-friendly manner will be of huge benefit to them and will enable them to process what has happened, thereby enhancing their educational experiences and improving their life chances in the future.”

For further information about MindWise and the programmes available, log on to www.mindwisenv.org