Martin is very proud to officially launch the Somerset version of his ‘Sadsville’ book, kindly hosted by The Grand Pier in Weston-Super-Mare on Monday 11thJune 2018.
According to Martin:
“I am truly delighted to launch the Somerset version of my ‘Sadsville’ book in support of the NSPCC at such a pivotal time in terms of national child safeguarding agendas, not only from a personal perspective to help give back, but also in relation to how themes such as child wellness, welfare and education are finally getting the attention they deserve.
“The mission of The Martin Roberts Foundation is to support educational, safe guarding and wellbeing initiatives for children and young people. This could involve understanding behavioural shifts through bullying and social or mental health challenges; encouraging children to reach out for help and support; or helping to empower a new generation of responsible young people through financial education”.
In 2018 the main project for the Foundation is to raise £500,000 to print and deliver a FREE copy of Martin’s book Sadsville to every child aged 8-9 (Year 4) in the UK, the age group as identified by NSPCC research as least likely to use the Childline phone help line. Sadsville, part of Martin’s ‘The Villes’ series of books, was especially written to encourage children to seek to change upsetting circumstances, and also to use Childline if they need help and support to do so. Its purpose is to support the NSPCC with their vital campaign work and we are proud to say that the project and book has been personally endorsed by Dame Esther Rantzen DBE, founder of Childline.
Dame Esther says:
“Thank you for creating this highly entertaining and original way of raising children’s awareness of how they can reach out for help through support services such as Childline. I wish the Sadsville book project every success.”
As well as Dame Esther Rantzen DBE, other well-known celebrities have read extracts from the book and have offered their support to the campaign including: David Hasselhoff, Jeremy Vine, Ben Shepherd and Kate Garraway. A celebrity video edition of the book is planned as part of the project.
Sadsville features the problem-solving character Herman, who helps people living in each of the different Villes to find solutions to their problems. His approach takes a ‘helicopter view’ and encourages a different way of looking at things. Whilst the Villes stories are whimisical they have a message and can help children to find ways to solve their own problems, or to seek help. The Childline number is featured as a call to action at the back of the book following the story, with contact details for other appropriate support services.
The Sadsville book has already received acclaim in prestigious academic circles, with one of the world’s leading experts on the psychology and neuroscience of resilience, Elaine Fox, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Oxford, saying:
“Depression is maintained, and perhaps even caused, by deeply entrenched negative thinking. Negative thoughts about themselves, the world around them, and the future can capture a child’s mind and drag them into a downward spiral. SADSVILLE helps to break this toxic cycle by getting kids to think about sadness in a unique way, providing them with a platform to challenge the negative gremlins inside their heads and to realise that the gremlins are just that – gremlins- and not a true reflection of reality”
The Martin Roberts Foundation will also be the main beneficiary of Martin’s other exciting new venture, ‘Achieve’which brings together the three pillars of Health, Wealth & Happiness over a 2-day period, which will take place later this year at Brunel’s Old Station (The Passenger Shed) in Bristol on Saturday 13thand Sunday 14thOctober 2018.
For more information about The Martin Roberts Foundation please visit:www.martinrobertsfoundation.org