CHARITY: MENTAL HEALTH COURSES.
We use commitment to the burger to raise money and awareness for a number of charities close to our hearts. Since 2018 we have raised over £50,000 and trained over 100 individuals in Mental Health First Aid.
FOR MARK.
In memory of our founder Zan's brother Mark, who tragically died in April 2017, Bleecker work closely with selected charities to help support and build awareness around mental health and addiction.
"My brother Mark worked his entire life in hospitality. From being a room service runner to managing restaurants, it was what he liked to do and where he fitted in. He spent a summer at Bleecker too. Mark was charming and funny and had a talent for commanding the attention of a room. He loved his maître d’ role, where he was especially popular with the older ladies of Miami Beach.
Mark suffered from mental illness and addiction. In April 2017, he overdosed and passed away at 35 years of age. Hospitality accepted Mark when other fields wouldn’t. It allowed him to stay himself whilst still struggling with this disease. For this I am grateful.
“To commemorate Mark’s birthday, we donate all our profits to charities connected with his experiences. This year, we are supporting The Outside Project and Stonewall Housing, two incredible charities which support LGBTQ+ people with homelessness, mental health and domestic violence.”
CHANGING HORIZONS.
Changing Horizons' was founded by Stu Skinner; a long-serving campaigner, consultant and Mental Health First Aid Instructor. Stu has worked on government campaigns, featured in BBC documentaries and worked extensively to challenge the stigma that causes so many to suffer in silence. Stu firmly believes that everyone has the right to a good quality of life and that conversations are the catalyst for change.
Changing Horizons provide in-house training to support and help you to improve the mental health of your organisation.
The funds raised on March 1st will be used to deliver as many two-day Mental Health First Aid training courses as possible to people working in hospitality, including Bleecker staff and street-food market KERB’s network of traders, to seed the training within the industry which Mark Kaufman loved.