Brew Monday is a campaign by Mental Health charity, Samaritans, encouraging people to get together over a warming (virtual) cuppa. It’s more important than ever that we stay connected, even if we have to keep a physical distance. We are encouraging you to reach out to a friend, family member or colleague for a virtual cuppa and a chat. It doesn’t have to be a cup of tea, just taking time to really listen to another person could help them work through what’s on their mind.
Upload a photo of you what you’re doing for #BrewMonday, even if it’s just taking a moment for yourself with a warm drink and tag our Instagram, Twitter or Facebook. Every photo we see will be entered into a raffle, and we will be giving away a £10 Amazon voucher each to two students who participate in any of our #BrewMonday activities!
Raising Money
We raise money each Brew Monday for Samaritans because we know how important it is to have someone to talk to. Every £5 we raise answers a call for help that could save a life. Typically, we would hold a bake sale on campus to raise money – although that is not possible this year, we’ve come up with some other ways you can donate and get involved.
First up, we are hosting a virtual raffle, with the chance to win a £50 Amazon Voucher! You can purchase raffle tickets here. Like a standard raffle, these tickets are £1 each or £5 for a strip and you can buy as many as you would like. 100% of all donations will be going to Samaritans, so even purchasing one raffle ticket makes a huge difference! Once you have purchased your tickets, you will receive an email confirmation. Then, on Brew Monday (Monday 18 January) we will send you an email with your ticket numbers, and at 4:30pm we will spin a wheel and post the winner to our Social Media pages. You will also receive an email if you have won the £50 too!
We have also teamed up with local small business, The Little Box of Happy, who have created a series of Motivational Quote cards, each with their own unique design and quote, for anyone in need of a positive boost. These cards are the perfect gift to send out to loved ones, to let them know you are thinking of them and to brighten their day! £1 from each card ordered will also be donated to Samaritans, so by purchasing one, you are not only sharing positivity with your loved ones, but also helping raise money for an incredible charity and supporting a small business.
These cards have been discounted to £1.95 with free UK shipping for Bucks students, simply add discount code Bucks2021 at checkout. Shop via their website or on Etsy.
Events
Brew Monday is more than just fundraising, it's important that we talk about mental health and it's impacts. We need to have conversations with our friends and family and check in on them thorugh these difficult times. So, your Vice President Education and Welfare, Natasha Neal, and Student Engagement Co-ordinator, Ellie Freeman, will be running a Mental Health First Aid session via Zoom on Monday 18 January at 2:00pm-3:00pm. If you missed out on their session at RepCon, now is your chance to attend. Both Natasha and Ellie are qualified Mental First Aiders, and both share a common passion for mental well-being, so will lead you through this one-hour session together.
Following on from the Mental Health First Aid session, Natasha and Ellie will be hosting an ‘After Par-tea’ alongside Julia Crooks (Senior Welfare Advisor) for anyone who would like to have a chat. This informal Zoom call is just a chance to talk to one another, share tips for maintaining positive mental health and have a cuppa. There is no pressure to talk out loud, you can participate via the chat function or simply listen to the conversation for some company. You can attend both the Mental Health First Aid session and stay on for the After Par-tea, or attend either on their own, it is entirely up to you.
We'd like to remind you that you are not alone, if you need someone to talk to please consider reaching out to our free confidential Advice Centre at SUadvice@bucks.ac.uk or to the Samaritans. You can also view more of our mental health resources on our Mental Health Support page.