
Haslingden based MY Total Office Solutions ‘Plant a Tree’ campaign has joined forces with Rossendale (Water) located mental health charity Shiva Trust.
Shiva Trust was founded in 2012, to support those living on the margins of society due to mental health related issues.
They operate from a 26-acre farm where they cultivate over 9,000 trees, provide sanctuary for rescued animals, and support people struggling with their mind, through mental health and well-being courses & tools.
As a result of the pandemic, they have been forced to overhaul their services. Not only to adapt financially but also ethically, as there is an ever-growing need for their charitable mental health services.
Trees are an important element of this for Shiva Trust. Not only do they form part of their welling-being courses and help in the fight to reverse climate change & de-forestation. They also bring in much needed income through sponsorship.
MY Total Office Solutions Director, Darren Turner said: “It was a chance meeting that kicked things in motion. I was doing the weekly shop & Anand shouted over. ‘Hey, you’re that tree planting dude’.
“After we both stopped laughing. We got talking about how we could work together to provide a win win for both organisations”.
“Shiva Trust have a large tree planting weekend planned in November, and we’ve agreed to sponsor & help plant 420 trees, on behalf of our customers”.
Charity manager, Anand Ennis Cole added: “We’re so grateful to Darren & his customers. Not only is it great news for the environment. It provides a green endorsement to their brand & enhances their existing corporate social responsibility (CSR) program. “
“But most importantly, they are also supporting Shiva Trust in helping people to recover from mental health related illnesses (at this very difficult & stressful time), through this tree planting sponsorship.”
Darren began. “We’re thrilled to help Anand & Shiva Trust with their objectives, and also still meet our own climate change & de-forestation objectives.”
“Planting trees is the biggest & cheapest way to tackle the climate crisis. As trees grow, they absorb & store the carbon dioxide emissions driving global heating.”
“Scientific research estimates, a worldwide planting programme could remove two-thirds of all the emissions that have been pumped into the atmosphere by human activities. A figure the scientists describe as “mind-blowing”.
Darren continued. “So, we’ve pledged to plant 1,000’s of trees & this next planting with Shiva Trust brings our running total to 720.”
“We’re not doing it alone. Our customers are helping too. In its simplest form…
For every office technology contract agreed we will plant a tree for that person or organisation, providing each with a certificate showing where it was planted.”
MY Total Office Solutions provide print technology, internet phones, subscription-based laptop bundles and stationery for families, home workers, small & medium organisations. With specialised products for schools, charities & nurseries.
Shiva Trust was founded by Ramana Ennis Cole in 2012, after spending 10 years as a personal business & charity development consultant, studying Hindu philosophy for 20 years in India & working extensively in humanitarian projects.
To understand how you could get involved with Shiva Trust go to their website email them info@shivatrust.org or call 01706 214 730.