Suicide is the biggest killer of young people under the age of 35 in the UK. PAPYRUS exists to reduce the number of young people who take their own lives, by shattering the stigma surrounding suicide and equipping young people and their communities with the skills to recognise and respond to emotional distress. They believe that no young person should have to struggle alone with thoughts of suicide.

'Time to Donate' - a message from Licence to Queer's creator, David Lowbridge-Ellis MBE

In the last two years, the Licence to Queer community raised almost £4,000 for charities. This year we’re raising money for the vital work of a charity whose mission is close to our hearts: PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide.

Very few people will not have been affected by suicide. One of my motivations for starting Licence to Queer was to do whatever I could to shatter the stigma surrounding suicide. Not only have I experienced suicidal thoughts for prolonged periods of my own life but I have known several people who have taken their own lives.

One of my earliest pieces dealt very personally with my own battle with suicidal ideation and it’s a topic I’ve returned to more recently in my coverage of the latest James Bond film, No Time To Die.

That film’s title provided us with the inspiration for the name of this year’s fundraiser. Its star, Daniel Craig, has personally donated to our chosen charity - PAPYRUS - and sent them messages of support.

As we have done in previous years, my husband Antony and me are going to create a focal point for our efforts by having a marathon Bond watchalong with followers. The first year, it was the Bond films of Roger Moore. Last year it was the Bond films of Pierce Brosnan. This year’s it’s fitting that it’s Daniel Craig.

On the surface, a movie marathon might not sound all that ardous - even one lasting over 700 minutes! - but if you’ve been involved in one of these before, you know it’s so much more. Expect custom drinks (which you can make yourself, as we’ll share the recipes in advance), costume changes, special guests and much more. We’ll be watching along with fans on social media and streaming live between each film.

We hope you can get involved in some or all of it.

Thank you so much,

David

About Licence to Queer: https://www.licencetoqueer.com/about

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Save the date: Sunday 26 May 2024

Times in GMT

9am Casino Royale

12pm Quantum of Solace

2.30pm Skyfall

6.00pm Spectre

9.00pm No Time To Die

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About PAPYRUS

The Mission

PAPYRUS exists to reduce the number of young people who take their own lives, by shattering the stigma surrounding suicide and equipping young people and their communities with the skills to recognise and respond to emotional distress. They believe that no young person should have to struggle alone with thoughts of suicide.

The Vision

PAPYRUS envisions a society which speaks openly about suicide and has the resources to help young people who have suicidal thoughts.

Values and Beliefs

PREVENTION: Many young suicides are preventable.

PASSION: Those who are touched personally by a young suicide have a unique contribution to make to our work.

HOPE: No young person should have to suffer alone with thoughts or feelings of hopelessness, and nobody should have to go through the heartbreak of losing a young person to suicide.

LEARNING: Everyone can play a role in preventing young suicide.

PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide is the UK charity dedicated to the prevention of suicide and the promotion of positive mental health and emotional wellbeing in young people.

PAPYRUS was founded in 1997 by a group of bereaved parents, who had lost children to suicide. Their founding parents shared core beliefs that suicide is preventable, and that those with lived experience of suicide have a valuable and unique contribution to make to the wider conversation around suicide.

Since then, PAPYRUS has grown into a UK-wide charity with offices in north west England, south west England, West Midlands, London, Northern Ireland, north Wales, south Wales, and Scotland.

Today, they are a leading youth suicide prevention charity in the UK. Their suicide prevention helpline, HOPELINE247, is staffed by trained suicide prevention advisers, who work with young people – and anybody concerned for a young person – to help keep them safe from suicide.

They deliver suicide prevention education and training packages to thousands of people each year, to create suicide-safer communities across the UK.

They also press for change to current legislation around suicide prevention on a regional and national level.

HOPELINE247 is available 24 hours a day, 265 days of the year to support young people experiencing suicidal thoughts, and those concerned about a young people that might be feeling suicidal.

Call: 0800 068 41 41

Text: 07860 039 967

Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org