🌟 The New Normal Hong Kong Launch Fundraiser 🌟

🚀 The New Normal Hong Kong Launch Fundraiser 🚀

Imagine a space where grief and mental health struggles are shared, not carried alone. The New Normal Hong Kong (TNN HK) provides a refuge for those going through life’s toughest moments.

In a world where mental health struggles often go unspoken, TNN is a source of empathy and support. Here in Hong Kong, in just over one year, our dedicated volunteers have already delivered over 90 free support groups and community activities, reaching over 600 people. If we were able to secure sufficient funding, imagine the incredible impact we could make and how many more people we could reach.

Behind every glimmer of hope, there are practicalities to tackle. Your generous contribution will help TNN HK navigate the complexities of launching and growing our services in the city. We are a tiny organisation run entirely on volunteers' energy and passion. We operate without the backing of donors or paid staff here in Hong Kong. This means that every contribution plays a crucial role in taking the essential steps needed to introduce and grow our services successfully. From administrative fees to vital training, every dollar brings us closer to a brighter and more empathetic society.

Your donation today will bring hope to someone facing life's most challenging moments. Hear Jess’ story below. With your support, we aim to expand our services and reach even more individuals in need.

“Hi everyone, my name is Jess, and I am personally crowdfunding to cover the start-up costs of The New Normal (TNN) Hong Kong as the founder of our Hong Kong Chapter. You can read about our journey so far below, but first, a personal message from me. In 2020, my Dad was terminally ill, and when Covid hit, I decided to leave Los Angeles to return home and join my family. In the UK, during the pandemic, hospitals were overrun, and it was hard to get support due to the overwhelming number of Covid cases. My Dad didn’t die of Covid, but he died during lockdown, and I found the experience of caring for him at home with my Mum deeply isolating and upsetting. After he died, I felt that I needed support and faced challenges accessing the public system, a problem I know is global. By chance, I found TNN on Instagram through a shared post by Ben May, the founder. I started attending their peer support groups and quickly realised that all I needed was for someone to say, “I was you, and even though you might not believe me, it will get better.”

🤝 Join Us in Building a Compassionate Future - Your generosity is what drives us forward

Your support is more than a donation – it's an investment in the emotional well-being of Hong Kong. Let's create a future where grief and mental health challenges are met with compassion, understanding, and accessible to all.

🏦 Where Your Funds Will Make an Impact

Without any investment, we have successfully run over 90 groups for over 600 attendees.

We are a tiny organisation in its infancy, run entirely on the energy and passion of volunteers. We do not have donors. We do not have paid staff here in Hong Kong. There are things that we need to do to launch and grow our services here in Hong Kong successfully.

What We Need to Do (all in Hong Kong Dollars):

• Retainer fee for company secretary appointment: $9,000

• Registered office address provision: $4,500

• Designated representative in Significant Controllers Register: $3,500

• Initial deposit for charity bank account: $10,000

Total ~HK $27,000

What it costs us to provide our core services:

• To train one facilitator to provide peer support groups for a year costs $4,710

• To provide one peer support group for ten people costs $360

• Provide a subsidised Suicide First Aid course: HK $3,100

• Provide one movement-based class for financial hardship support: HK $600

What We Want to Do:

• Build our website: HK $4,270

• Provide a fundraising launch event: HK $20,000

An additional ~HK $24,270

🎁 All donors will receive

• A space on our digital wall of gratitude as founder donors on our new website

• A priority invitation to our launch event

• Exclusive updates on our work and impact

• Early Access to upcoming campaigns, events, and initiatives.

🎁 Donors of HK $500 and above will receive a gift of gratitude on a first come basis. These gifts include:

• Lab-grown diamond jewellery

• Treatment and blowdry at Love Hair Hong Kong

• Free workplace well-being seminar delivered to your company

• Free suicide prevention course for up to twenty people delivered to your workplace or community.

• Restaurant gift cards

Most importantly, your support will help us create a society where empathy and understanding are central, and no one faces life's challenges alone. Your contribution is an investment in a future where compassion heals, connections thrive, and stories become strength.

"If there’s one, there’s two."

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The Story of The New Normal

At The New Normal, we believe in the power of shared experiences. Since our inception, we've been fostering compassion and understanding through free peer-to-peer support meetings. These meetings have become a source of solace for countless individuals navigating life's toughest moments.

🌏 A Global Force of Compassion

The New Normal thrives on the dedication of our incredible volunteers. Our guiding principle is simple: everyone deserves a space where their voice is heard, understood, and embraced, no matter who they are or their challenges. We have expanded, and our groups reach people all over the world. Co-founders of our UK chapter, Ben and Jack, connected by shared stories of grief, began our mission. Jack's loss of his father and Ben's father's battle with brain cancer intersected in Ben's barber chair and started an unexpected friendship. Seeking solace for his anxiety, Jack went on a retreat where he discovered the power of sharing his grief. On returning, Ben and Jack hosted their first grief peer-to-peer support meeting, Good Grief. This marked the beginning of our journey.

🤝 Bridging Isolation

Central to our mission is the belief that talking with others who've walked similar paths can be incredibly healing. Over the years, we've facilitated conversations that bridge the gap of isolation, allowing individuals to connect with peers who share similar life journeys.

🌈 Fostering Connections Beyond Meetings

Our commitment transcends the boundaries of peer support meetings. Through community activities, we connect those seeking connection. Through our innovative Move Partners project, we collaborate with fitness professionals to offer wellness classes for free for those experiencing financial hardship, ensuring everyone can access well-being activities. Additionally, we provide subsidised suicide prevention and mental health training; price should never be a barrier to access

🌆 The New Normal: Hong Kong Chapter

Jess became a TNN UK volunteer fuelled by the personal loss of her Dad, Neil, during the pandemic. Experiencing the challenges of seeking mental health support within the UK's public system, she found support in TNN's virtual peer support meetings. Recognising the transformative impact of shared stories, Jess embarked on a journey to bring TNN's services to Hong Kong. With support from incredible volunteers from Hong Kong, TNN launched the first Good Grief Hong Kong session on January 24, 2022. This marked the beginning of an array of peer support groups tailored to various needs, from grief and mental health to students and breakups. In July 2023, we proudly introduced the first Cantonese-speaking peer support group, 好心程 (hou2 sam1 cing4), further championing mental health conversations in the local community.

We retain full discretion on whether gifts will be provided.