Preventing Crisis Before It Starts

Project Lily is a unique, preventative mental health and wellbeing charity serving the whole of the Jewish community. We intervene early – before challenges escalate into serious mental health crises. We do this by providing rapid, practical support, training, and treatment. Our approach is culturally sensitive, community-rooted, and proven to make a difference. Our approach is built on three pillars:

 1. Training:

• Free, CPD-accredited courses delivered by a BACP-qualified professional.
• Trainees learn to rapidly identify and respond to their own and others’ common mental health issues including stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, and more.

2. Support:

• Trainees’ early interventions, combined with our casework support, counter the escalation of mental health and wellbeing issues.
• Clinical Team oversight ensures therapeutic treatment needs are identified and get the right help.

3. Treatment:

• Assessment of cases referred by partner organisations is initiated within 24 hours.
• Those referred contribute what they can towards the cost; we subsidise the rest.

Project Lily supports the Jewish community, understanding the cultural and religious factors that can impact mental health and wellbeing. Our preventative approach fills a vital gap, ensuring people get help before they reach crisis point.

Why Now?

The need for Project Lily’s work has never been greater. Our community is facing unprecedented stress – a predominant factor in the onset of many mental illnesses:

• The cost-of-living crisis is pushing more families into distress.
• October 7th and the ongoing conflict in Israel have caused trauma and anxiety to soar.
• Antisemitism has risen sharply, leaving many feeling isolated and vulnerable.
• The NHS is overwhelmed, with waiting lists for mental health support at record highs.

Key Facts & Figures

• 98% of participants rate their training as ‘good’ or very ‘good’
• For every person trained, three preventative interventions occur within 12 weeks.
• Wide range of formal communal partnerships with e.g. GIFT, JLE, Resource, Seed, Work Avenue.
• Our Clinical Director is Jonathan Dove – a leading and highly respected Mental Health professional with 30 years’ experience.
• Rapid response: 1st therapy appointment within days vs NHS waiting times > 6 months
• Average therapy subsidy for those in need: £500 per referral.

What Makes Project Lily Different?

• Prevention First: Most charities focus on acute or chronic cases. Project Lily promotes and practices early interventions.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Deep understanding of the Jewish community’s needs.
• Working partnerships with communal organisations – maximises reach and avoids duplication.
• Evidence-Based: Interventions are clinically driven and impact-assessed.

Testimonials: Real Lives Changed (feedback from service users and trainees)

• “I’d like to thank Project Lily for helping me through one of the toughest times in my life. I genuinely believe I’d be very lost right now if I did not have Project Lily supporting me.”
• “Your help changed everything – thank you!”
• “The friendly and enthusiastic therapist support has been invaluable at this time.”
• “What I’ve learnt from you hasn’t just helped me; I’ve also been able to help other people too.”
• “I’ve often struggled with responding to someone in need. Now I have more confidence and skills. Thank you!”
• “This course has been invaluable to me as I have a friend who tried to commit suicide and has struggled ever since…”