The Lord Mayor's Dragon Boat Race is raising funds for the ‘multi-year’ Lord Mayor’s Appeal, ‘A Better City for All’, which is supporting three inspirational charities - Place2Be, OnSide Youth Zones and Samaritans - to deliver ground breaking programmes and find solutions to some of London’s most pressing societal issues. Together we can not only change people's lives but save them.

Place2Be 75% of mental health issues start in childhood. Every day thousands of children face bullying, abuse, bereavement, family crisis, domestic violence, neglect and trauma. Place2Be will deliver a transformational mental health and wellbeing programme, giving children in 180 schools in London access to mental health and emotional support so that children will grow up with prospects not problems.    

OnSide Youth Zones are a game changer for young Londoners, by providing 21st century youth provision, offering them somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to. With five new state of the art Youth Zones purpose-built in London to transform communities in areas of high deprivation, they will get young people off the streets and out of their bedrooms.

Samaritans Every day in the UK, 16 people die by suicide and every 6 seconds someone in crisis contacts Samaritans for help. Being more aware of our own emotional wellbeing and noticing when others are struggling will be a game changer as early interventions can prevent people reaching crisis point. Samaritans have launched Wellbeing in the City a ground-breaking online programme, bringing Samaritans expertise into the workplace. It will give employees the skills they need to manage their emotional wellbeing, build resilience, and to listen and support those around them.  

Find out more at www.thelordmayorsappeal.org