Normally, all the profits from our print issues, and pay as you wish digital issues, would go straight back into making Doll Hospital Journal. You see, sales are our only income so previously any money raised went towards practical things like printing hard copies and posting out contributor’s copies.
However, as this is our final issue for the forseeable future we don’t have to worry about saving our pennies for our next print release. Not only is that a nice relief, I mean fundraising is stressful(!), it also means we can put the money we raise from this roundtable, as well as future sales of our pay as you wish digital copies, to good use!
As a result, from the 3rd August 2019 we’re very happy to say that all our profits will be going towards two mental health themed organisations that are advocating for issues that are very dear to us.
The first, INQUEST which is the only charity in England and Wales providing expertise on contentious deaths and their investigation to bereaved people, lawyers, other advice and support agencies, media, parliamentarians and the general public. Its range of cases includes custody and detention, such as in psychiatric, prison or police settings; multi-agency failings; or where wider issues of state and corporate accountability are in question, such as with the Hillsborough and Grenfell Tower disasters. Working alongside those who have lost relatives, INQUEST provides advice and support to bereaved families and demands truth, justice, accountability and systemic change to prevent such deaths happening in the future.
Find out more about their work here.
The second is Trans Survivors Switchboard, a hotline run for and by trans and non binary folks in the UK. TSS offers information and emotional support to those who are struggling with experiences of abuse, trauma, crime and sexual violence. A sex worker affirming space, they are experienced with complex subjects such as homelessness and living under domestic abuse. Previously, they have provided an irl wheelchair accessible drop in space for survivors in Brighton, and donations from these sales will go towards continuing this work.
The helpline runs from 3pm to 5pm on Sundays, just ring 01273204050, and they also offer a live web chat if talking on the phone isn’t your thing!
Find out more about their work here.