Since 2019, the KFC Foundation has raised over £3million for Comic Relief with support from chicken fans around the country. This money has been invested in projects that support young people and help them fulfil their potential.
However, as new research conducted by KFC shows, Gen Zs are still more likely to suffer in silence or deal with a serious life event themselves, before seeking help. Seven in 10 Gen Zs believe there is still a stigma around issues including mental health, homelessness, abuse, and unexpected unemployment. What’s more, nearly one in 10 (eight per cent) have never had a discussion with someone who could help them, and of those who did reach out, it took them more than five months to ask for support and advice. Reasons for this include not wanting to be a ‘burden’, fear of being judged – and simply not knowing where to turn.
The research also found that for those who are yet to go through any serious issues, 59 per cent claim they would try and solve it themselves before trying to get help and 37 per cent believe there is either not very much help, or no help at all, for younger people in these circumstances. Only 6 per cent would consider seeking help from local charities. Of the 53 per cent who have known someone going through a crisis in their life, 42 per cent said this person stayed quiet about it for ‘a long time’.
The KFC Foundation has been raising funds for Comic Relief in a bid to help organisations in local communities across the UK – such as Streetlife in Blackpool – provide safe social spaces, mentoring, employment and social skills for young people. Streetlife helps, mentors, coaches and advocates for homeless young people in the local community to make a stable home and find their feet so they can think about their future and take steps towards it.
“I’ve been with Streetlife since November 2021 and have pretty much been with the project every day for the past year! We build bonds between people and everyone gets to know each other, so it’s something I’m really grateful for. I believe that if more people spoke out about their experience and what they’ve been through, it would help make it easier for other people.”
Kaitlyn, 19, Streetlife beneficiary
To raise awareness of projects that exist to support young people, like Streetlife in Blackpool, Strictly Come Dancing contestant and KISS Radio DJ, Tyler West, has joined forces with the KFC Foundation and Comic Relief. Tyler has previously worked with young people with mental health issues and plans to make a documentary focusing on the effects of trauma on teenage mental health, telling his own story in the hope he can inspire change.
Since 2019, 5p from every Sharing Bucket at KFC has gone to Comic Relief and to celebrate Red Nose Day this year, that donation is being upped to £1 between 13th – 17th March. Fans can also get their hands on a limited-edition reversible KFC bucket hat, from which at least £7 from each sale will go towards Comic Relief. Because as we know, a Bucket Shared is a Problem Halved! To buy a Comic Relief x KFC bucket hat, please visit https://kfcshop.co.uk/products/kfc-foundation-x-comic-relief-bucket-hat
