University of Northampton's floral display sell-off blossoms into generous donation

Each summer, the University’s grounds team sells off floral displays used during graduation week to generate cash for good causes.

The £1,380 raised this year has been donated to The Lowdown, which offers free and confidential counselling, sexual health and LGBTQ support services six-days- a-week, in Northampton, for 12 to 25 year olds.

John Howes, External Services Manager for 1st Degree Facilities, the company which maintains the University estate said: “I sit on the University’s Wellbeing Forum and so am well aware of the challenges young people face and also the gaps in mental health services that they can access.

“The Lowdown does amazing work to help young people in the county, including our students, and without it, so many would have nowhere to turn.”

Ellie White, The Lowdown’s resources and marketing manager, said: “It’s fantastic to see the University support us in this way, particularly as students use our services.

“The money, which will go directly to supporting young people in the county, is much needed because the number of people coming to us with mental health issues is on the rise.

“We saw a 24 per cent increase in the number of sessions we ran for young people in the last financial year, compared to the year before which we put down to a number of factors, including the stigma of discussing mental health being lifted.

“We now also offer a much-needed support network for those from the LGBTQ community, which has increased the demand for our services.”

2019 will see The Lowdown celebrate its 30th anniversary, when it will launch a fundraising campaign to extend its Kingswell Street premises.