Mikeysline CEO reflects on mobile Hive’s first month on the road: “It really does take a community”

Emily Stokes, CEO of Highland mental health and suicide prevention charity, Mikeysline, has shared her gratitude to all those who have helped launch the charity’s mobile support Hive – marking the first of its kind in Scotland.

Offering mobile support to areas that have limited access to the charity’s face-to-face mental health and suicide prevention services, the launch of Mikeysline’s ‘Hive on the Road’ has been described by CEO Emily Stokes as “a significant achievement made possible by our communities, for our communities.”

Emily said: “The launch of Mikeysline’s mobile Hive is a real testament to the support and work of those in our local communities.

Having received significant funding from both the Wolfson Foundation and McDonald’s in the Community through support of Craig Duncan, who has ownership, as a Franchisee, of a number of Highland McDonald’s restaurants, we have been able to take our services to more remote rural areas, where access and availability to mental health support is limited.

“However, it is worth acknowledging that the money received from McDonald’s in the Community, is in fact funds generated from the Scottish Government bag tax – money that contrary to what its name would suggest, doesn’t go to the government but instead is held by businesses.”

The bag tax is a Government levy which binds any business using bags, paper or plastic, to charge customers 10p/bag taken. It was first introduced in Scotland in 2014 and was amended on April 1, 2021.

Craig Duncan – who operates six McDonald’s branches including, Inverness High St, Inverness Inshes Retail Park and Fort William – commented: “McDonald’s in the Community was set up to allow local franchisees to donate the monies collected from customers in our restaurants to support charities in the areas that they operate.

“Having received significant funding from both the Wolfson Foundation and McDonald’s in the Community through support of Craig Duncan, who has the franchise for a number of Highland McDonald’s restaurants,operated by Craig Duncan, we have been able to take our services to more remote rural areas, where access and availability to mental health support is limited.

“However, it is worth acknowledging that the money received from McDonald’s in the Community, is in fact funds generated from the UK bag tax – money that contrary to what its name would suggest, doesn’t go to the government but instead is held by businesses.”

The bag tax is a Government levy which binds any business using bags, paper or plastic, to charge customers 10p/bag taken. It was first introduced in Scotland in 2014 and was amended on April 1, 2021.

McDonald’s franchise owner Craig Duncan – who operates six McDonald’s branches including, Inverness Inshes Retail Park and Fort William – commented: “McDonald’s in the Community was set up to allow local franchises such as Fort William and Inshes to donate the monies collected from customers in our restaurants to support not only McDonald’s initiatives such as the Ronald McDonald House charity, but also those in the local community.

“Mikeysline has had an incredible impact on many people living throughout our region. Their message is an important one and we wanted to help ensure it reaches as many people as possible.

“Mental health support  and suicide prevention is not just present in the larger towns and cities, it is everywhere and we must all come together to ensure no one gets left behind because of geographical barriers.”

The Scottish Highlands has the second highest suicide rate in Scotland, with higher rates affecting remote rural areas, where access and availability to mental health support is limited. The introduction of Mikeysline’s mobile Hive, has already seen residents of Fort William, Drumnadrochit and the Black Isle receive much-needed advice and face-to-face support.

Emily Stokes, continued: “Seeing the van on the road and the attention it has received so far in its journey has been incredible, but it couldn’t have been achieved without the support of our local community. We owe all this to them and promise to continue sharing the message that it’s ok to not be ok!”

Since 2015, Mikeysline has offered confidential, non-judgemental support to people of all ages dealing with mental health issues, emotional distress or thoughts of suicide in the Highlands, Islands and Moray. It does this via a text line service at 07786 207755; WhatsApp at 01463 729000 and via its website; and live chat, Twitter and Messenger via its website.

The charity also produces a popular podcast, Speaking of Suicide; provides support for businesses; works closely with teachers and pupils in schools across the north of Scotland; and offers face-to-face support in Hives across the region – at its Inverness headquarters, and in Alness, Nairn, Tain, Balintore and Portmahomack. Here, service users can engage in one-to-one support, or at some venues  join in group sessions for adults, men, families and school communities.

For more information about the charity, visit www.mikeysline.co.uk – or find Mikeysline on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Life of Ron Williamson marked

The life of the man who founded Highland mental health charity Mikeysline has been celebrated at a memorial event in Inverness.

Ron Williamson died aged 74 in December after a long illness.

He helped set up the charity following the death of his nephew Michael “Mikey” Williamson (23) who died at his Inverness home in 2015 – two days after this friend Martin Shaw, had also been found dead.

Tribute was paid to Ron at an event, Light up the Night, at the Glen Mhor Hotel. The Ness Bridge was also lit up in the Mikeysline colours to shine a light in his memory.

The memorial lead by Halde Pottinger, was attended by family, friends, Mikeysline volunteers and staff, past and present and many others who knew Ron.

It featured Highland Voices Gospel Choir whose performances included Shadow Falls and their final song, Leave the Light on.

Everyone was invited to follow Spud the Pipe, who helped launch MIkeysine in 2015, along the river to the Ness Bridge.

Describing Ron as “an absolute legend” he said “It is an honour to be asked and I wouldn’t have missed if for anything.”

Mikeysline chief executive Emily Stokes said: “Light up the Night celebrated a special family man who made a lasting impression not only on those who held him dear, but also on all who knew and met him”.

“Ron Williamson was, everyone agreed, one of a kind, just like the legacy he leaves behind him in the charity he founded.”

Mikeysline was born in December 2015 to provide a text-for-help hotline service for people experiencing thoughts of depression, anxiety, worry of stress and those in crisis.

As well as providing the first crisis text line in the country, it also introduced the first crisis self-help app in Scotland the the first out-of-hours crisis drop-in centre in the Highlands.  The Hive Project in Inverness.

It gained support from people across the Highlands as well as endorsement from Inverness-born Hollywood star Karen Gillan and strongman Luke Stoltman.

Ron’s own commitment meant a regular 600-mile drive from Southampton until he handed over the reigns four years ago although he kept up-to-date with developments as it continued to grow and flourish and welcomed its expansion of work in schools and with local businesses.