Bournemouth Hotel launches charity partnership with Dorset Mind

Bournemouth’s West Cliff Hotel and Spa has announced a new partnership with local mental health charity Dorset Mind.

The hotel, located on Durley Chine Road, Westbourne, will be supporting the Dorset-based charity in a multitude of ways over the coming year, from raising awareness through fundraising efforts, to supporting Dorset Mind events and services, including a new branch of their activity programmes for young people.

Staff will also be getting involved by attending upcoming Dorset Mind fundraising events as volunteers where available, including the Sherborne Dragon Boat Race, taking place on May 27th, and the annual Dorset Plane Pull on August, 26th.

They will also be launching a series of fundraising initiatives at the hotel itself. Plans already include donating the ticket takings from two upcoming events and holding a fundraising competition giving away an afternoon tea for two.

The Bournemouth West Cliff Hotel are also keen to draw on the expertise of their new charity partners to ensure everything they’re doing around mental health is the best it can be. Representatives from the charity will be leading mental health awareness sessions for hotel staff and will be working alongside the hotel to refine their mental health practices.

General Manager Tony Giauna said: “Supporting local charities is really important to us at the Bournemouth West Cliff Hotel - and Dorset Mind was a unanimously popular choice with our team because their work fits so well with our values, and our own approach to mental health needs within our team, guests and community.

“As managers, we want to take a lead on prioritising mental health and encourage those facing mental health challenges to reach out for the support they need.

“We are so excited about what we can do to raise awareness, funds and support for Dorset Mind’s incredible work in our communities, and the opportunities for education and learning they have so generously offered will be very gratefully received.”

Dorset Mind, which is a local branch of the Mind charity network, works independently in the local area and has supported more than 15,000 people as of the end of 2023. They work with children as young as 11 to address trauma and anxiety as early as possible to mitigate the risks of worsening mental health over time.

Linda O’Sullivan, CEO at Dorset Mind said: “We are thrilled to be working in partnership with the Bournemouth West Cliff Hotel and we have a host of exciting ideas for how we can support one another over the coming months.

“The hotel team are really engaged and we are so pleased that they not only want to help us with fundraising, but they are also keen to develop their own knowledge to better support anyone in their extended community dealing with a mental health issue.

“We believe this will be a really positive and energising partnership for both of us!”

 Plans in place include stocking Dorset Mind leaflets in the hotel’s public spaces, installing collection pots and hosting a summer garden party for the charity staff, key partners and donors.

The Bournemouth West Cliff Hotel will also be using upcoming events in the hotel’s entertainment calendar to raise money – including donating a chunk of the takings from upcoming tribute nights.

The hotel will also step up its engagement with ‘Rooms to Reward’, a scheme whereby unsold hotel rooms are offered to charities to be gifted to their deserving volunteers and unsung heroes.