Why I am raising money?

I am raising money for Leeds Survivor-Led Crisis Service (LSLCS). The charity is a Leeds-based mental health service that offers mental health support to those in need. I have worked as a helpline volunteer providing support to individuals in crisis for just under a year and have found my time with the charity utterly rewarding. The place LSLCS inhabits within the mental health services in Leeds is uniquely important to its callers, visitors and guests. That's why to give back to the charity that has provided me with knowledge and experience, I will be running the Leeds Marathon. Every donation is hugely appreciated no matter how big or small, and will help to support individuals in acute mental health crisis who have often struggled to access adequate support from statutory services.

What is LSLCS?

Leeds Survivor-Led Crisis Service (LSLCS) was set up in 1999 by a group of service users, who campaigned for five years to develop the service (which became “Dial House”). Initially, LSLCS was run in partnership with Social Services, becoming a registered charity in 2001. Dial House was set up to be a place of sanctuary, as an alternative to hospital admission and statutory services for people in acute mental health crisis. LSLCS was established, and continues to be governed and managed, by people with direct experience of mental health problems. We have our own unique perspectives on what it feels like to be in crisis and what helps and does not help. We have developed our LSLCS based on this knowledge and experience, while responding to the needs articulated by our visitors and callers.

For more information about LSLCS and the different kinds of support it offers, please take a look at the LSLCS website: https://www.lslcs.org.uk/