Our story
We began with #LightItBlue – a campaign that prompted hundreds of landmarks and iconic buildings around the world to illuminate blue as a gesture of gratitude to all healthcare heroes and key workers.
With #MakeItBlue we’re inviting people everywhere to get creative and showcase their talents. We’ve galvanized communities across six continents to turn the internet blue with videos, images and messages of hope and positivity.
And now we’ve formed MAKEITBLUE CIC – a community interest company dedicated to raising funds for mental health charities. As live event professionals, our mission is to support industry colleagues in need, while promoting mental health awareness through arts, entertainment and cultural projects.
Our Ethos
#MakeItBlue came to life when the events and entertainment industry found itself, much like the rest of the UK, in a state of enforced inaction. Without leaving our homes, we wanted to use our skills and our networks to say a massive thank you to all those working at the front line and risking their own health to care for others.
We also wanted to reach out to the many people within our industry who, having lost their jobs, are feeling anxious and uncertain about the future. We believe that together, we can offer support, generate positivity and galvanize communities all over the world to do the same.
Our Mission
#MakeItBlueUK raises funds for a range of mental health charities and initiatives. As live event professionals, our missions are to support those of our industry colleagues who are in need, and to promote public mental health awareness through arts, culture and entertainment projects.
Value statement
Our initiatives are guided and informed by our shared commitment to:
Compassion:
Mental wellbeing lies at the core of our ethos and actions.
Positivity:
Sending and spreading a blue glow of gratitude to frontline workers all over the world.
Equality:
We work with a good heart as a collective of individuals sharing a common aim.
Solidarity:
We support our brave healthcare heroes and frontline workers facing tough challenges today as well as friends and associates in our own industry facing a difficult future in the months and years ahead.
Optimistic:
We’re confident that working together we help with and resolve the challenges we face in our time.
Help and Support
The following organisations exist to provide emotional, practical and, in some cases financial support to all those whose mental health and wellbeing are under threat:
Events and entertainment industry-specific bodies
Backup – The Technical Entertainment Charity
Backup provides financial assistance to members of the entertainment industry and their families in emergency situations.
EventWell
The charitable social enterprise dedicated to mental health campaigns, education and support for event professionals, EventWell is providing much needed assistance for industry colleagues whose mental health is suffering through the Covid-19 pandemic.
MusicSupport.org
Our mission at Music Support is to make sure that nobody in the UK music industry is left to suffer alone with mental or emotional health issues or addiction.
0800 0306789
Production Services Association & Stagehand
If disaster should strike - in particular, an injury or illness that prevents you working or forces an unplanned change of career - it’s good to know that emergency help may be at hand.
https://www.psa.org.uk/pages/about-welfare-and-benevolent-fund
Stress Matters
Phone: 07481 362 111 Call or SMS us today. Open, 8am until 8pm.
Our confidential support line for all #eventprofs
THE EVENT INDUSTRY HAS BEEN BADLY AFFECTED BY RECENT NEWS. LET’S TALK
https://www.stressmatters.org.uk/
https://mailchi.mp/c621863f8ef6/nutrition-for-mental-health-4012137?e=b78df6b108
Public helplines
Alcoholics Anonymous
Phone: 0800 917 7650 (24-hour helpline)
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
Anxiety UK
Charity providing support if you have been diagnosed with an anxiety condition.
Phone: 03444 775 774 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 10pm; Saturday to Sunday, 10am to 8pm)
Bipolar UK
A charity helping people living with manic depression or bipolar disorder.
Business debtline
0800 197 6026
CALM
CALM is the Campaign Against Living Miserably, for men aged 15 to 35.
Phone: 0800 58 58 58 (daily, 5pm to midnight)
Citizens Advice Bureau
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Adviceline: 03444 111 444
Text relay: 03444 111 445
Cruse Bereavement Care
Phone: 0808 808 1677 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Family Lives
Advice on all aspects of parenting, including dealing with bullying.
Phone: 0808 800 2222 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm and Saturday to Sunday, 10am to 3pm)
Men's Health Forum
24/7 stress support for men by text, chat and email.
Mental Health Foundation
Provides information and support for anyone with mental health problems or learning disabilities.
Mind
Promotes the views and needs of people with mental health problems.
Phone: 0300 123 3393 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm)
Website: www.mind.org.uk
Narcotics Anonymous
Phone: 0300 999 1212 (daily, 10am to midnight)
National Debtline
0808 808 4000
National Gambling Helpline
Phone: 0808 8020 133 (daily, 8am to midnight)
No Panic
Voluntary charity offering support for sufferers of panic attacks and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Offers a course to help overcome your phobia or OCD.
Phone: 0844 967 4848 (daily, 10am to 10pm). Calls cost 5p per minute plus your phone provider's Access Charge
NSPCC
Children's charity dedicated to ending child abuse and child cruelty.
Phone: 0800 1111 for Childline for children (24-hour helpline)
0808 800 5000 for adults concerned about a child (24-hour helpline)
OCD Action
Support for people with OCD. Includes information on treatment and online resources.
Phone: 0845 390 6232 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5pm). Calls cost 5p per minute plus your phone provider's Access Charge
OCD UK
A charity run by people with OCD, for people with OCD. Includes facts, news and treatments.
Phone: 0333 212 7890 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Papyrus
Young suicide prevention society.
Phone: HOPELINEUK 0800 068 4141 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 10pm, and 2pm to 10pm on weekends and bank holidays)
Rape Crisis
To find your local services phone: 0808 802 9999 (daily, 12pm to 2.30pm and 7pm to 9.30pm)
Refuge
Advice on dealing with domestic violence.
Phone: 0808 2000 247 (24-hour helpline)
Relate
The UK's largest provider of relationship support.
Rethink Mental Illness
Support and advice for people living with mental illness.
Phone: 0300 5000 927 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)
Samaritans
Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.
Phone: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline)
SANE
Emotional support, information and guidance for people affected by mental illness,
their families and carers.
SANEline: 0300 304 7000 (daily, 4.30pm to 10.30pm)
Textcare: comfort and care via text message, sent when the person needs it most:
www.sane.org.uk/textcare
Peer support forum: www.sane.org.uk/supportforum
Website: www.sane.org.uk/support
Victim Support
Phone: 0808 168 9111 (24-hour helpline)
YoungMinds
Information on child and adolescent mental health. Services for parents and professionals.
Phone: Parents' helpline 0808 802 5544 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)