Snapped: Martin Roberts Launches The Martin Roberts Foundation

TV and radio personality Martin Roberts is pleased to unveil his new charity, The Martin Roberts Foundation. Check out our gallery of the launch reception was held in the Victoria Art Gallery below...

Martin is very proud to have recently officially launched the Foundation in his home City of Bath. The launch reception was held in the Victoria Art Gallery attend by over 80 business representatives, The Mayor of Bath Councillor Ian Gilchrist and Chairman of Bath& North East Somerset Council Councillor Cherry Beath.

Martin said: “I am truly delighted to launch my Foundation 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 in the UK (identified by NSPCC research as the age group currently least likely to use the Childline phone help line). Sadsville is part of Martin's The Villes series of books, was specially written by him to encourage children to seek to change upsetting circumstances, and also to use Childline if they need help and support to do so, and we are proud to say that it has been personally endorsed by Dame Esther Rantzen DBE, founder of Childline.

2 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 at the in the Sadsville book, together with contact details for other appropriate support services.

The launch reception was organised by Loraine and her team at Morgan-Brinkhurst Consultancy Events.

The Martin Roberts Foundation will also be the main beneficiary of Martin's other exciting recent venture, the Achieve Health, Wealth & Happiness expo, established in Bath in October 2017. Further Achieve events are planned for 2018/19.

For more information about The Martin Roberts Foundation please visit: www.martinrobertsfoundation.org