GMFringe supports mental health support service

Rafaela Nunes, with the support of the Greater Manchester Fringe, is looking to raise £6,500 via Crowdfunder to introduce a new free mental health support service at the Greater Manchester Fringe called threadUp pitchUp, as an additional service to her counselling practice, threadUp, which was set up in 2018 with the aim of supporting and improving the mental health of the creative community specifically.

Rafaela was inspired to pilot a hub of mental health support in festivals/fringes and creative events, after visiting Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2019, when she recorded the launch of Psycomedy as a guest mental health professional, a podcast by comedian Nathan Cassidy. Rafaela originally planned to run this pilot at various Fringes the following year, but like many of her clients, was halted by the Coronavirus Pandemic. 

threadUp pitchUp will offer trained counsellors to talk to any creatives in whatever capacity working on the Fringe.  Details of how to contact the service are at www.threadup.co.uk and counsellors will be on hand before, during and immediately after the Fringe to hold you, to support you and to propel you to where you want to be.

Rafaela’s long term plan is to set up a CIC (Community Interest Company) focusing on mental health projects such as threadUp pitchUp.

Rafaela Nunes says: ‘I’m so grateful to be able to launch this in my home town at the Greater Manchester Fringe.  After working with musicians, writers, comedians, fashion & creative designers since setting up threadUp, my vision is a hub of mental health support in all festivals/fringes and creative events.

I bring to this not only my experience as a counsellor, but personal understanding of intersectionality; originally from Brazil, I know well the struggles of coming from a non privileged background to work in these creative fields.'  

‘threadUp pitchUp’ has launched a crowdfunding campaign to fund the mental health & wellbeing support that will be offered, to all working in the event. The pilot depends on people's generosity to become a reality. For details and to donate please visit https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/threadup-pitchup

Published: 29-Jul-2021: (6301)