Coodes raises over £7,000 for the Invictus Trust

Coodes Solicitors has handed over a cheque for £7,009.30 to the Invictus Trust – a local charity that helps teenagers with mental health issues. Staff from Coodes’ network of offices across Cornwall and Devon have walked, run, cycled, and baked cakes to raise funds for the Truro-based charity.

Formerly Coodes’ Charity of the Year, the Invictus Trust was set up in January 2010 in memory of Ben Cowburn and aims to support local teenagers who are suffering from poor mental health. The charity is campaigning for a teenage mental health unit in Cornwall and also provides support to young people and their families, through its web based Mental Health Portal. Run largely by young people, it is raising funds through parties, gigs and events in Cornwall. It has also launched the Anchor Fund, which offers financial support to local families who are travelling to visit a child being treated elsewhere in the country.

Lawrence Ford, Partner and Head of the Mental Health team at Coodes Solicitors said: “The Invictus Trust was chosen as our charity of the year by a staff vote and our teams have really got behind the fundraising. We are very proud to have raised more than £7,000 for such an important local cause. Through our Mental Health team we see first hand the struggles that many local families have so it has been a great experience for us to support them in a different way.”

The Trustees of the Invictus Trust said: “Through all manner of gruelling challenges, such as rowing and walking for miles and miles to cake sales and dress-up events, the staff have been incredibly supportive of our cause: to raise awareness and reduce stigma around issues of poor mental health in young people and to lobby for an Adolescent Mental Health Unit for Cornwall, where there is presently no provision at all.

“The funds raised will be used to support families whose children are hospitalised hundreds of miles and many hour’s journey away from home; to train Mental Health First Aiders who can train teachers to support their pupils by being alert to early warning signs of poor mental health, seeking appropriate help and to provide equipment to adolescent mental health units in the West of England to improve the patient experience and improve the chances of successful re-integration for young people.

“The Invictus Trust will continue to give a voice to local young people and their families who are struggling with the impact of poor mental health and strive to improve local provision.”

Coodes Solicitors’ current charity of the year is another Cornish charity – Penhaligan’s Friends – which supports bereaved children.