Happy Birthday, Mersey Cares! Celebrating three years of supporting our communities

We've achieved so much - and it's all thanks to you

This month, we've been celebrating a special milestone as Mersey Cares marks three years since its official launch.

Over the past three years, our charity has gone from strength to strength, growing its reach and impact across the Trust and supporting more services, teams and communities than ever before. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, fundraisers and partners, Mersey Cares has funded 77 charitable projects since our public launch in September 2023, supporting activities outside the scope of the NHS that make a meaningful difference to the lives of patients, service users, carers and staff. 

At the heart of everything we do is a commitment to enhancing mental health and wellbeing by providing the extras that go above and beyond what statutory funding alone can support. From transforming garden spaces into therapeutic environments to funding community groups and support networks, we've helped bring to life initiatives that promote recovery, connection and wellbeing across the region.

We've worked closely with our Later Life and Memory Services, supporting projects such as dementia-friendly door wraps, dementia lending libraries and therapeutic resources designed to ease anxiety and agitation. We've also provided funding for resources that support children and young people's therapies and wellbeing, helping services create engaging and supportive environments for young people and their families.

Our work with the Zero Suicide Alliance has continued to grow - and we're incredibly proud to have funded a range of FREE suicide awareness training resources including the redevelopment of the ZSA's main Suicide Awareness Training, Social Isolation and Loneliness Training, Supporting a Stranger Training and a tailored suicide awareness training package to support healthcare workers. 

Creativity and Connection

Creativity and connection have also been central to many of the projects we've supported. From displaying children's artwork within our services to creating opportunities for people to express themselves through creative activities, we've helped make our environments more welcoming and therapeutic. And thanks to the kindness of Mersey Care staff, local businesses and the wider public, we've been able to provide hundreds of Christmas presents and Easter gifts for children and young people receiving care across our region, bringing moments of joy when they matter most.

Staff Wellbeing Initiatives

Supporting staff wellbeing is equally important to us. Over the past three years, we've helped fund exciting therapeutic initiatives including Wellbeing Through Wildlife, Wellbeing on Wheels and have supported the Trust's Pause for Thought menopause campaign. As we continue to grow, we're always looking for new ways to support colleagues and invest in the wellbeing of our workforce. The feedback has been amazing, with many staff noting the benefit of initiatives to support their wellbeing. 

"We all had an absolutely amazing time, it was a huge boost to our mental health and well-being, our morale as a team and just our overall happiness. It honestly was so much fun and so beneficial."

Thank you to our amazing Mersey Care supporters

A huge part of our success has been made possible by the incredible support of our supporters including our NHS staff, local businesses and people across our communities. People across Cheshire and Merseyside have taken on our fundraising challenges with enthusiasm, determination and a real sense of community spirit. Whether tackling the Yorkshire Three Peaks, taking on the Liverpool Cathedral Abseil, completing skydives, running the Liverpool Half Marathon and Run Aintree, or challenging themselves with the Inflatable Obstacle Challenge and many more events, you've really done so much to support us. 

These challenges have not only raised invaluable funds but have also helped spread awareness of the difference charitable funding can make across our services. Every mile run, step climbed, obstacle conquered and pound raised has helped us turn ideas into reality and bring additional opportunities, resources and support to people across the Mersey Care footprint.

Want to get involved and help us to do more?

If you are feeling inspired by what we've achieved so far and would like to support us to do more -- we would absolutely love to hear from you. We have a number of fundraising challenges on offer and are always adding to our portfolio! It's a great way to raise awareness and make a difference, supporting mental health initiatives across Cheshire and Merseyside.

If you'd like to take part in a Mersey Cares fundraiser -- take a look here: Register to a Fundraising Event :: Mersey Care Charity

Can you join our 2026 'Santa Squad'?

We are currently looking for 100 Mersey Cares 'Santas' to join our team taking part in the Liverpool Santa Dash! It's such a fun day out and a great way to get in the festive spirit, with thousands of Santas running through the streets of Liverpool! Help us to put Mersey Cares on the map!  Read more:  Liverpool Santa Dash 2026

Looking ahead

While we're proud to celebrate everything we've accomplished over the last three years, we're even more excited about what lies ahead. We have ambitious plans for the future and countless ideas for how we can continue to provide those extra touches that make such a difference for people accessing mental health and community services.

As we celebrate this milestone birthday, we'd like to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported Mersey Cares on its journey so far. Here's to everything we've achieved together, and to many more years of making a difference.

Happy Birthday, Mersey Cares!

Want to read more about what we've made possible? Read our latest Impact Report