Chamber Charity Spotlight | Manx Children’s Art Therapy (MCAT) | Feb 2025
07 February 2025
Now more than ever local charities need support from the business community to ensure the fantastic work they undertake continues and develops.
Charitable work is an excellent way to enhance your businesses CSR, in addition to giving you and your team the “feel good factor”
Every month Chamber will be highlighting the propositions and projects of our individual Charity members and educating you on how and why your business might choose to become a supporter.
Tell us about your charity and what your aims are?
Manx Children’s Art Therapy (MCAT) is dedicated to providing clinical art psychotherapy services. In partnership with the Children’s Centre, we operate four days a week to sup- port children facing long-term physical or mental health challenges, as well as their families. Art therapy is an expressive therapeutic approach that utilises the creative process of art to enhance an individual's physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. It offers children a unique way to express, process, and share thoughts and feelings that can be difficult to articulate verbally.
Our Aims:
Therapeutic support - We offer a clinical art psychotherapy service and we aim to improve the overall mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing of children, helping them to cope with their health challenges.
Family support - We recognise the impact on families, and we strive to support not just the children but also their parents and caregivers.
Community - We seek to raise awareness about the importance of art therapy and its benefits, fostering a supportive community for children and families in need on the island,
As we receive no government or NHS funding, we aim to build partnerships with trusts, businesses, and individuals to secure the resources necessary to continue our vital work.
What current projects are you undertaking or have in the pipeline?
Our main project is to raise funds to help support, sustain and grow our much needed services. As part of this initiative, we're focused on increasing awareness of the charity and engaging with a broader community of potential supporters.
We appreciate that many charities simply do not have the resource or skills required for example to market themselves, run social media platforms or carry out functions such as HR or accounting. If any Chamber members wished to support your charity by offering some time, what kind of skills would you be appreciative of?
The main skills we are looking for are those related to fundraising, as well as individuals who are eager to get involved and help organise some fundraising events. Additionally, people with experience in securing corporate sponsorships would be a huge asset.
In addition to the above how can the business community support your charity?
Corporate sponsorship - businesses could sponsor our programs, specific events or grants, helping us expand our services.
Events - businesses could organise fundraising events with proceeds going to MCAT and encourage employees to participate in fundraising initiatives.
Donating goods or services - provide supplies for art therapy sessions, marketing support, or professional services.
Spreading the word - businesses can help raise awareness about us.
Finally, where can our members find more information or contact you?
info@mcat.im
www.mcat.im
Facebook - @ManxChildrensArtTherapy