Ambassadors of the Sir Norman Lamb Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund

Why are they supporting Sir Norman’s Fund?

“I was delighted to be asked to become an ambassador for the Sir Norman Lamb Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund. It is so very important to look after the mental health of our children and young people, particularly at the moment when they have been separated from their school friends and peer groups. I know from my own extended family that it is vital that mental health issues are recognised and treated properly at an early age and that young people are given every opportunity to have the best start in their adult lives.”
– Lady Anwen Hurt, Pro Chancellor of Norwich University of the Arts and Artistic Director of Holt Festival

“The Sir Norman Lamb Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund is designed to support the younger generation dealing with serious problems which are often underestimated. I’m glad to see that help is provided to those who need it, especially as the last couple of months have stressed, it is now more important than ever to look after one another in our community. Therefore I’m very happy to be named an ambassador for the Fund!”
– Christoph Zimmermann, professional footballer for Norwich City

“I’m delighted to be named an ambassador of the Sir Norman Lamb Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund at Norfolk Community Foundation, recognising the vital role that local charities and community groups play in supporting the mental wellbeing of our children, teenagers and young adults in Norfolk. I fully support Sir Norman’s efforts to give our young people a brighter future.”
– David Hill, Executive Chairman of Jarrold & Sons Ltd

“Supporting young people and making things as accessible as possible is really important to me as a member of Norfolk Youth Parliament, and the Sir Norman Lamb Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund is a great step in the right direction. Mental health is something that affects everyone, and as a young person, it’s nice to know that there’s someone looking out for us.”
– Emilie Brown, Member of Youth Parliament for Norwich North

“It is a great honour to be an ambassador for Norman Lamb’s Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund. When I first read about his plans I decided I wanted to be involved in whatever capacity I might be of use to both Norman and the fund’s work. I have lived all my life in the shadow of mental ill health and the appalling devastation it wreaks on people’s lives – both those suffering as well as their loved ones. I have also experienced the tragic results of inadequate care provision and lost loved family and friends because of it. At The Book Hive we will continue to generate money for the fund through different initiatives, as well as raising awareness to help eradicate the stigma surrounding medical conditions which thrive best when shrouded in silence, leaving its victims more vulnerable and isolated than anyone with a serious illness should be. I implore you to support this brilliant and vital venture.”
– Henry Layte, Owner of the Book Hive

“I feel hugely privileged to be asked by Sir Norman to be an ambassador for his Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund. The deeply important issue of mental health is something which is very personal to me, having experienced it both within my family and having suffered myself. I look forward to doing all that I can to help shine a light on mental health and wellbeing particularly amongst the young generations in Norfolk. Never has there been a greater need for such a Fund, and to be a part of Sir Normans work in our great county is a great pleasure.”
– Jeremy Buxton, Norfolk farmer and former Eurosport presenter

“Being diagnosed on the autistic spectrum as a child and struggling with mental health myself I know only too well what a difference having support can do and mean. Without the years of support I’ve received I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish the things I have, achieve the great sporting successes or take part in the wonderful opportunities I have been given. Even now I don’t always understand things or get things right, I still struggle with my mental health but I’m lucky because what I do know is I have people around me who care and I believe that everyone should have at least that. A charity to support their mental health and wellbeing, support can be absolutely life changing.”
– Jessica-Jane Applegate MBE, Paralympic gold medal winner

“My involvement over many years in prisons, magistrates’ courts, mental health hospitals, Victim Support and sitting as a member of Mental Health Tribunals has given me some first-hand awareness of the need for more help to be given to those struggling with mental health difficulties. And now we are seeing another category of people seriously affected brought about by the Coronavirus lockdown. Feelings of isolation and negative patterns of thought can become ingrained when we spend long periods of time alone. This is something that many people can relate to. There is a certain taboo about talking about mental health problems. Perhaps we are all guilty of this. Communication is the key to dismantling the taboo. I am proud to be an Ambassador for this very worthwhile Fund.”
– Paddy Seligman OBE, Chair of the Norfolk Millennium Trust for Carers

“I’m incredibly proud to be a supporter and ambassador of the Sir Norman Lamb Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund. Like everyone really, my life has been touched by experience of mental ill health and in my family. I know today that tragically 1 in 8 of our under 19s suffers from a clinically diagnosed mental health disorder. I’ve got young children myself and it’s such an important issue for them growing up and for me as a parent that they have all the support they need and our young people and our children for whom the coronavirus crisis has hit really hard get all the support they need.”
– Patrick Barkham, author and Guardian writer

“Covid is having such a profound effect on people’s mental health that we will need to do everything we can to support and promote community-based and peer-to-peer support groups. The NHS and other statutory services simply won’t be able to do in on their own. That’s why I am so pleased to be an ambassador for the Sir Norman Lamb Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund.”
– Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt, former Labour Member of Parliament and Secretary of State for Health, now Chair of Norfolk and Waveney Health and Care Partnership

“The Norfolk Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund is a brilliant example of what can be achieved when local communities come together to solve local challenges. I am delighted to support its work.”
– Paul Riseborough, member of Nationwide Building Society’s Executive Board

“I am passionate about the need for better mental health provision for our young people here in Norfolk and Sir Norman Lamb, with his years of experience, is the very best person to spearhead this campaign. It will be of particular relevance as our young people emerge from lockdown when the unprecedented scale of the problem will really hit home. Childhood doesn’t wait. It is absolutely imperative we give our children and young people the support they need NOW if we are going to make a substantial difference to young lives across the county. As Lord-Lieutenant this initiative has my utmost support.”
– Lady Pippa Dannatt MBE, Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk

“I’m very proud to be an ambassador for the Sir Norman Lamb Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund. The Fund I know in the coming weeks and months is going to do some absolutely critical work to support some of the most vulnerable members of society. And those vulnerable members of society over the course of the last 100 days of the coronavirus lockdown will have faced unbeknown and unforeseen challenges in their lives that they will never ever have had to deal with before and we know that children in particular during this time have been vulnerable. Therefore it won’t come as any surprise at all that I want to put my name and support behind Sir Norman’s campaign.”
– Simon Bailey, Chief Constable of Norfolk Constabulary and the National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead on Child Protection

“I became an ambassador of The Sir Norman Lamb Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund because I truly believe in their mission to help people dealing with mental health issues in their life, I believe the only way we can help other is by collaboratively coming together and using our platforms to further raise awareness and keep spearheading the fight against mental health. Like many others, I have suffered many battles with my mind, and I know the war is never over, but the small battles we win arm us for the future and give us the confidence and experience we need to overcome what we thought would be impossible. In a number of years, I have become a different person with the support of others and the determination in myself to become the man I know I am. I am proud to share my name alongside such a beautiful cause and look forward to watching our support grow.”
– Vincent Harrison, Hip Hop artist known as ‘Cenzy’