# Mental Health Foundation's direct mail pack mixes ask with campaigning

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2007/05/14/mental-health-foundation039s-direct-mail-pack-mixes-ask-campaigning/
- Published: 2007-05-14T23:00:00+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

The Mental Health Foundation will pilot a new direct mailing campaign featuring 
both a fundraising ask and a call for its supporters to sign a petition to lobby
the government for improved access to psychological therapies on the NHS. The combined
approach in this month’s mailing is designed to engage donors more creatively.
The
appeal has been developed with support from direct marketing agency Whitewater, 
and is designed to fundraise on the back of the charity’s involvement in the ‘We
Need to Talk’ campaign, which is being led by a coalition of five mental health 
charities.

Russell Marriott, Director of Fundraising at the Mental Health Foundation explained
the different approach: “Direct mail is not getting the results it once did and 
so charities are having to be much more creative. The pressure is on for us to retain
our donors and keep them engaged – we believe that getting more donors involved 
in the key policy issues that affect them is one way of doing this. We know that
the lack of psychological therapies available on the NHS is an issue of concern 
for many and so we’re tapping into that.”

The mailing will hit doorsteps from 21 May 2007. Donors are encouraged to respond
promptly as the deadline to sign the ‘We Need to Talk’ petition is 15 June 2007.

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