Hurst chooses 42nd Street as its charity of the year

Accounting firm Hurst has chosen mental health charity 42nd Street as its charity of the year and will raise funds for it by taking part in the AJ Bell Great Manchester Run later this month.

42nd Street is an organisation which supports young people experiencing issues with their mental health and emotional wellbeing.

Hurst chief executive Tim Potter said staff were keen to support a mental health charity, particularly as the issue has come to the fore due to the pandemic.

The firm has already raised £75,000 for good causes in the past seven years.

Most recently, in 2021 and 2022, it supported Willow Wood Hospice, based in Ashton-under-Lyne.

42nd Street provides a range of free and confidential services, including one-to-one counselling, group work, online sessions, cognitive behavioural therapy and creative activities at The Horsfall, the charity’s bespoke gallery space.

Since its inception in 1980, the Manchester-based charity has helped 65,000 individuals, of whom 20,000 have benefited in the past four years alone.

It has also supported over 6,500 people last year – an increase of 30% over the previous 12 months.

Its team of counsellors, therapists and workers work with people aged 11-25 to understand the issues they face and develop positive coping strategies.

Potter said: “42nd Street does wonderful work alongside the NHS in providing valuable mental health services to young people, something that is needed now more than ever in the wake of the pandemic.

“Being part of the local community in Greater Manchester is really important to us, so we love it when we are able to show our support by having the opportunity to work with good causes that give back to the community.”
Simone Spray, chief executive of 42nd Street, added: “The charity has had more young people than ever before asking for support over the last year, and so the support from Hurst couldn’t be better timed.

“We are extremely grateful to them for choosing us as their charity of the year and we are really looking forward to supporting them in some exciting fundraising activities and getting to know them as partners over the next year; Everyone says 42nd Street is like a family, so we are delighted to welcome the Hurst team to the family.”