NOTE: We have now drawn the first winner and notified them, however we want to raise even more for CALM so we have added new rewards: If you sponsor 3 or more calls between August 3rd and August 30th, you will be entered into a prize draw to win the first 2 tickets to Shambala 2019! We will notify the winner of this second prize draw on September 2nd. Please make sure you choose the correct reward to enter this draw.
Over the past 3 years, Shambala’s ‘Flags For…’ campaigns have raised over £17,000 for incredible causes. Last year you helped In Place of War set up new music studios in areas of conflict in Uganda; in 2016 you helped Temwa alleviate Malawi’s food crisis; and, in 2015, you helped Help Rural Nepal tackle the aftermath of the devastating earthquake.
This year, Shambala Festival is teaming up with CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) to present Flags For CALM.
CALM is an award-winning charity dedicated to preventing male suicide, the single biggest killer of men under the age of 45 in the UK. In 2017, 75% of all UK suicides were male.
- Via their helpline, webchat and website CALM offer support to men in the UK who are in crisis
- Through their campaigns and outreach work, CALM challenge a culture that prevents men seeking help when they need it
- Through their Support After Suicide Partnership, CALM aims to ensure that everyone bereaved or affected by suicide is offered and receives timely and appropriate support
How Flags For CALM works
- We are asking you, the great people of Shambala, to sponsor a Call to CALM
- Each call that CALM receives costs £8
- If you sponsor 3 or more calls before August 2nd, you will also be entered into a PRIZE DRAW to win 2 TICKETS to this year's sold out Shambala Festival
- The cut of for donations that will qualify for the first Prize Draw is the 2nd of August in order that we can notify the winners
- NEW: If you sponsor 3 or more calls between August 3rd and August 30th, you will be entered into a prize draw to win the first 2 tickets to Shambala 2019! We will notify the winner of this second prize draw on September 2nd. Please make sure you choose the correct reward, to enter this draw (Make sure you select the correct Reward).
- This campaign, though, will run until after Shambala 2018- Thursday 30th August
- For every call sponsored, Shambala will fly a string of prayer flags on the Shambala Stage. This will create a striking and beautiful symbol of our support and prayers for those who have taken their own lives and for those who have been left behind
- 100% of your sponsorship money will go directly to CALM
- Shambala Festival will cover all the costs of buying, transporting and flying the flags and will also donate £1,500 to this campaign
Why CALM?
Male suicide and mental health is a big issue that can’t be ignored any longer. The statistics are shocking: every two hours a man in the UK takes his own life.
It’s unacceptable that so many men are dying from suicide on a daily basis, yet so few people are talking about it.
It’s something that has impacted us, as a festival family and personally, and we know many of you will have been affected by this issue in one way or another. Whilst it goes without saying that suicide is not an exclusively male issue, the fact that 75% of UK suicides in the past 12 months have been male means this issue needs our urgent attention.
This is everyone’s problem. So, whilst CALM’s services are aimed at supporting men in crisis, they want to work with the whole of society on campaigns to help change the toxic culture around masculinity that renders many men unable to ask for help for fear of being seen as weak.
The impact of male suicide is huge and affects us all, regardless of gender.
Where Your Money Will Go...
- The money you raise will be spent on CALM’s frontline helpline and webchat service, supporting men who feel they have nowhere left to turn. The service provides practical and personalised support as well as crisis support. It’s run by paid professionals, the majority of whom have a background in social care and youth work and who all receive extensive training
- Last year they answered more than 71,000 calls and webchats and directly prevented 427 suicides. They are now working to expand the helpline and grow their campaigning activity around the UK to reach more men and save more lives
- Currently, the average call/webchat costs £8 so every single string of flags sponsored will fund a call!
Please dig deep, Shambala- together we can save lives!
You do not need to be coming to Shambala Festival to contribute to this campaign.
If you’re in need of support, you can find information on CALM’s support services here. If you’ve been affected by suicide, please go to the Support After Suicide Partnership website to find help near you.