A not-for-profit gym in Leith is to offer new mindfulness and yoga sessions designed to boost mental wellbeing, thanks to a four-figure donation from Aberdeen Standard Investments Charitable Foundation. Projekt 42, which aims to highlight the bond between physical fitness and mental health, has received over £3,100 to run two yoga and mindfulness courses over a period of six months.
The gym’s two courses – which will bring people from different backgrounds together for one hour a week – will be aimed at young adults and men over the age of 18, to assist people in the community suffering from anxiety or depression.
Sara Hawkins, founder of Projekt 42, said: “The grant we have received from Aberdeen Standard Investments Charitable Foundation will go a long way to helping those in the Leith community who most likely to be struggling with anxiety or depression.
“Mindfulness involves making a conscious effort to pay attention to what is happening right now. Much of our lives are spent focusing on past worries and future events, juggling work, family and daily commitments. It can bring clarity and a sense of power to change your environment, enhance your focus and attention, improve confidence, and increase self-awareness and awareness of others.”
Founded in May 2017, Projekt 42 now welcomes over 2,000 people to attend carefully crafted fitness, yoga and meditation classes to help improve the connection between the body and mind. Alongside the financial contribution, staff from Aberdeen Standard Investments’ Edinburgh office have also been invited to volunteer in the gym – with the opportunity to take on roles in social media, studio organisation, financial management and delivering classes.
Claire Drummond, head of charitable giving for Aberdeen Standard Investments, added: “With so many distractions in our day-to-day lives, it is now – more than ever – so important to ensure that our bodies and minds are healthy and prepared for whatever may face us.
“The work undertaken by Projekt 42 in Leith provides a safe place to practise techniques used to navigate the world around us for those that need them the most, and Aberdeen Standard Investments Charitable Foundation is proud to support its cause.”
The Aberdeen Standard Investments Charitable Foundation was established in 2012 to formalise and develop the Group’s charitable giving globally. The Foundation seeks partnerships with smaller charities around the world, where funds can be seen to have a meaningful and measurable impact. It encourages its employees to use their time and skills to support its charitable projects. For more information visit http://aboutus.aberdeen-
For more information about Projekt 42, visit www.projekt42.co.uk
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