Mental Health Awareness Week pop-up at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Cheshire Oaks

Visitors to McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Cheshire Oaks will spot the return of local business pop-up Be+Positive at the centre from today.

The activation – which is part of the centre’s Mental Health Awareness Week activities – is the second time McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Cheshire Oaks has invited the growing business to trade within the centre. 

Following the success of last year’s pop-up, the centre is thrilled to lend their platform to local business BEPO once again, offering visitors the opportunity to shop sustainable, low carbon footprint clothing and find out more about the mental health awareness mission behind the brand. Launched by a collective of artists across the region, BEPO strives to publicly fight the stigma surrounding mental health, while promoting a positive attitude to those interacting with their creations.  

BEPO is not the only partnership the centre will be working with to mark Mental Health Awareness Week. Flynn’s Port in the Storm, McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Cheshire Oaks’s resident charity partner for 2022, will also be present at the pop-up store from May 6^th until the 10^th to meet guests and raise awareness about their mental health support services. Highlighting their specialised referral and counselling sessions, the mental health charity will work alongside BEPO to help combat negative attitudes towards asking for help with regards to mental and emotional wellbeing.  

In addition to these partnerships, the centre has made efforts to promote good mental health among its visitors with implementing the following from today; 

·       Installing a friendship bench at the centre, in the hopes this will offer those needing someone to talk to the opportunity to connect with others in their community. The bench will also feature an uplifting and inspiring quote from BEPO, selected by staff at the Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet - “Mindset: a positive one goes a long way.” 

·       Visitors to the centre will also spot a number of new positivity posters, featuring inspiring and empowering quotes encouraging guests to adopt a more optimistic mindset while walking around the centre. 

General Manager at McArthurGlen Cheshire Oaks, Kenny Murray said “Making sure our centre is a safe space that encourages our guests to look after their mental wellbeing is a top priority for us, which is why we felt compelled to partner with BEPO and our 2022 charity partners, Flynn’s Port in the Storm, to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Week. By hosting this pop-up store in our centre, we are hoping more guests are going to feel empowered to open up about their wellbeing, and seek those resources that could help with their situation.”   

Ben Taylor, founder of BEPO and NHS Maintenance Support worker, said: “Last year’s pop-up was an incredible opportunity for us to meet guests to the centre face to face and show them what our brand is all about. From increasing our online engagement to being featured in a photoshoot for the Daily Mirror with a Team GB Paralympian, this pop-up has given us the opportunity to grow our business and we are so happy to be able to come to the centre once again and welcome guests into our new pop-up location.” 

Visitors wishing to make a donation in support of Flynn’s Port in the Storm will be able to do so while visiting the pop-up, or by heading over to:

https://cheshirecommunityfoundation.org.uk/donate-now/

...quoting Cheshire Oaks.