A Giant Pink Pig Has been Spotted Outside York Minster

The M&S sweet brand character Percy Pig was walking the city streets on Tuesday collecting donations for Young Minds, the leading mental health charity for young people.

Percy’s walk was just one activity taking place in York as part the M&S week long “Fun -Raiser” which runs until Sunday.

In October 2023 M&S and Young Minds announced a charity partnership which aims to raise £5 million in 3 years and to raise awareness of the help available to young people struggling with their mental health and will enable YoungMinds to support seven million young people and the adults in their lives through easy to access online resources and its dedicated Parent’s Helpline.

Over 360 M&S stores across the UK are taking on  ‘fun-raising’ challenges and while other stores are doing marathon Walks and sky diving, Staff at Vanguard will be cycling the equivalent of Lands End to John O’Groats on a stationary bike in the Vanguard store between Thursday the 6^th and Saturday 8^th of June. 

Since the launch of the partnership in 2023, staff and customers has £700,000, this is in addition to the £1 million donation already made by M&S.

Research commissioned last year by M&S and YoungMinds and published in 2023 found that:

• Despite struggling with their mental health, 65% of young people hadn’t asked for any kind of formal support – with 33% of those saying they felt too embarrassed.
• Loneliness is the biggest cause of mental health problems in young people with 44% saying loneliness had a negative impact on their mental health.
• 61% of those waiting for mental health support had stopped attending school, college, university or work.
• Almost two thirds (59%) said missing school made them feel isolated from their friends and nearly half (47%) said it made them worried for their future – impacting their mental health even further.

Customers will be able to donate in-store or via the M&S website here.

Further information about the partnership and support provided by Young Minds can be found at: M&S and YoungMinds launch charity partnership | YoungMinds