Colourful coffee cups for Mental Health Month

Founder of Baylin's Gift, Hayley Hoskins, said the committee are hoping to bring awareness to mental health and promote positivity in the community throughout the month of October.

"We have been wanting to do the colourful cups for at least two years but have been too busy around this time of year," she said.

"We usually hold It's Ok on the Macleay in September or October, but because of COVID-19 we haven't been able to go ahead with it this year. The cups are a way that we can still get the message out there and promote inclusivity and mental health awareness."

The promotion will run throughout October, with 6000 bright and colourful take-away coffee cups being used at local cafe's. The cups also have mental health helpline numbers printed on them and Hayley's favourite affirmation 'You Matter'.

"We really wanted to be able to reach as many people as possible, so the businesses that have come onboard are from all over the Macleay," Hayley said.

Once locals have purchased a colourful cup they then need to take a photo with the cup and post it on Facebook or Instagram and tag Baylin's Gift.

"We're encouraging people to also add the hashtags #youmatter, #mentalhealthmonth and a third hashtag of their favourite positive affirmation," Hayley said.

On each Thursday of the month, the Baylin's Gift committee will choose a winner who will receive a free Baylin's Gift tie-dye shirt.

"We're trying to focus on flooding the massages of positivity, love, acceptance and inclusivity over social media throughout the month of October," Hayley said.

"All of the local cafe's that have come onboard are incredible, we couldn't have done it without their support."

The local businesses where you can get a rainbow coffee cup are:

Make sure you post your photo on social media and tag the Baylin's Gift Facebook page or Instagram account to enter the competition.