GPJ open doors and minds for Christmas

Opening Doors, Opening Minds from GPJ EMEA on Vimeo.

This Christmas, Brand Experience agency George P. Johnson (GPJ) have partnered with Mental Fight Club’s – Dragon Café to raise the importance of mental health awareness. GPJ is launching the ‘Opening Doors, Opening Minds’ community campaign which invites businesses across Bankside to show their support for those affected by mental health issues and the Dragon Café specifically by placing a unique Christmas wreath on their doors, either physically or virtually. By doing so, they aim to raise local awareness, channelling welcoming attitudes and actions toward mental health.

The Dragon Café is a Bankside based charity which provides a safe, open, welcoming space with creative activities for Patrons. It is an environment which is a highly effective antidote to the loneliness and isolation which is so often prevalent in those who have been affected by mental illness.

The Opening Doors, Opening Minds campaign aims to raise awareness of the charity, as well as boost year-round volunteers to host activities. Throughout December GPJ, recognising the power of experiences in the local community, is providing volunteers and leading workshops in wreath making at the café, these wreaths will be sponsored by Bankside businesses.

In addition, GPJ’s innovation team have developed an augmented reality wreath which can be unlocked and used to show support on any door and shared across social media – #Dragoncafe.

Nora Maddock, managing director, Mental Fight Club said “We’re delighted to be working with GPJ on the Opening Doors, Opening Minds campaign. We haven’t been part of a campaign like this before and we wouldn’t have been able to do this without GPJ’s expertise, creativity and enthusiasm. We rely on the support of a large number of wonderful volunteers to run the Dragon Café and this year we’re open on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. It can be challenging to keep everything going throughout December and having the GPJ team in every Monday is a huge help. Our Patrons loved making the wreaths at the workshop and we hope everyone enjoys them as much as we did making them!”

Jason Megson, managing director, GPJ UK added “Over the past 12 months we’ve really felt at home in Bankside and want to ensure the agency plays an active role in the local community. We are in awe of the powerful and progressive way that Mental Fight Club and the Dragon Café are working with people with mental health issues and wanted to show our support for an issue that touches us all in some way. Our team are excited about working at the Café throughout December and we look forward to other local businesses showing support by opening their minds and their doors this Christmas.”