Jon Neal, CEO of Suffolk Mind, has dedicated his Director of the Year win at the EADT Business Awards 2024 to the charity.
Suffolk Mind is the county’s local mental health charity, which was founded in 2010 following the merger of East Suffolk Mind and West Suffolk Mind.
The charity offers mental health support to people across the county from the age of four upwards, with services including counselling, support groups for borderline personality disorder (BPD) and eating disorders, plus residential care and its dedicated Suffolk Night Owls phoneline service.
Suffolk Mind also runs The Mental Health Toolkit, which provides practical mental health training for businesses both in Suffolk and across the UK.
All of its services are delivered using the Emotional Needs and Resources approach, identifying ways for people to better meet their 12 physical and emotional needs and in turn stay on the wellbeing side of the Mental Health Continuum.
Jon Neal, CEO of the charity, said: “A key strength of Suffolk Mind is that we have a mission that everyone can get behind – whether staff, volunteers, supporters, funders or people who use our services. We want to make Suffolk the best place in the world for talking about and taking care of mental health.”
Jon was recognised for his work at the charity when he won Director of the Year at the EADT Business Awards 2024.
“Winning this award is a huge privilege – I honestly was not expecting my name to be called out on the night,” he said.
“I’ve been incredibly touched by the number of people who have congratulated me, and some of the things they have said.
“Ultimately the feeling I have experienced the most is a sense of pride in all of those around me who have made this award possible. The entire organisation are the real winners.”
Jon went on to pay tribute to the charity’s staff, volunteers and supporters.
“All of our work is delivered by an amazing team of staff and volunteers – people who are passionate about improving the mental health picture in our county and making a real difference to people’s lives,” he said. “We would not be the organisation we are today – and I would not have won this award – were it not for their stellar contributions day after day.
“Likewise, we would not be where we are today were it not for the people putting the ‘fun’ in fundraising – skydiving, walking over burning coals and broken glass or organising their own events to support our work.”
Jon feels the award has validated the work Suffolk Mind is doing, and he will continue to lead the team in reaching the charity’s main aim.
He explained: “While I very much do feel humbled to have received the award, nothing has changed in our outlook and our drive to make Suffolk the best place in the world to talk about and take care of mental health.
“Together as a team we are united in achieving that goal – although this award win is definitely motivating and shows us that everything we have done so far has been right.
“Every service we run contributes to our mission. And every fundraising event we organise directly funds that overarching aim. We recognise it might take 50 years to achieve, but we have to start somewhere.
“Our hopes and ambitions are simply to continue working towards it, recruiting the best talent, drawing together the most enthusiastic supporters, and helping as many people as we can.”
Finally, Jon would like the award to raise awareness of Suffolk Mind in the future.
“I’d love for this award to make a tangible difference to what we do,” he said. “So, if anyone isn’t currently involved in Suffolk Mind’s work and would like to be, please get in touch.
“Whether as a volunteer, a sponsor, a fundraiser, or if you need our help, please pick up the phone, send an email or have a look at our website and get involved.”
For more information, click here, email info@suffolkmind.org.uk or call 0300 111 6000.
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