There’s still lots of free Mental Health ‘Boredom Buster’ Box O’ Beads ready to send out – If you or anyone you know is struggling with things, they’re free to absolutely anyone who needs ‘em – you, a friend, community group, whoever. Over 300 have gone out so far & there’s one for you, if you want.
by -SaC
5 comments
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[**Original post here!**](https://www.reddit.com/r/CasualUK/comments/1e71ker/free_mental_health_boredom_buster_box_o_beads/)
**UPDATE (27 July):** 300+ have gone out and lots are starting to arrive – please don’t worry if yours hasn’t yet; I’m having to stagger them going out at about 40-60 max per day so that the postie doesn’t kill me! Lots more being made though; there’s heaps left for you or a friend or organisation; please do let me know!
**If you’re worried yours might have been missed, or want to know when it might arrive, please do let me know – I’ve got a list of when each one was posted, so can let you know.**
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**Original post follows:**
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#First off –
**You don’t need to justify it or explain why you or your gran or whoever ‘deserves’ one, because you do and that’s that**. Just drop me a line and I’ll get one out to you. I cover postage as well, so there’s no cost at all.
Each box contains:
* 4 random packets of beads and whatnot
* Snowflake charms
* A reel of elastic
* Instructions
* A little handmade snowman dangle charm.
While it’s not much, it’s something that can take your mind off whatever’s going on at the mo – when I first started doing these, it was because of lockdown and struggles there. Now we have other crises and struggles, so we’re all still under the cosh a bit. It can be for you, or for someone you know. Again, **you don’t need to explain why you deserve one** – just drop me a message.
I have plenty ready to make (ie triple figures); I’ve spent the last 7 months building up to this, so you’re not going to deprive anyone by having one yourself. There’s one waiting for you =)
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I’ll try to get them all out ASAP. **Unfortunately, at this time, I can only post to the UK**. I hope to be able to send abroad next year, but currently the postal cost prohibits this. I can also unfortunately only post one per household at this current time – many apologies for any inconvenience.
If you’re part of a community organisation or initiative that could use them (victim support, food bank, community project), please let me know as I have some small sets of boxes set aside for such projects.
I’ve been doing these for about four years or something now, and there are certain times people might need to know they’re available. Thank you to the mods for allowing me to make this post. You’re all glorious specimens <3
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#Q: What’s the point of getting beads in a box – how is that meant to help?
I do get asked this a fair bit, and it’s a valid question. What’s a box of beads going to do for mental health?
**Distraction, mainly.** It’s easy to do, but also something with an end result. There’s enough beads and suchlike in them to make a bunch of necklaces, bracelets or whatever, and it’s something you can be proud of making for yourself, as gifts or…well, for anyone. Or just break them down and make more. There’s plenty of elastic. Or, y’know, use the elastic to fire beads at people out of the window.
It’s something very simple that doesn’t require any previous knowledge or skill, but it’s time consuming, relaxing, easy to do and has a viable end result.
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#Q: Why are you giving these away? What’s in it for you?
Another very common and very valid question.
Some years ago, I reached out to CasualUK (with help from mods) and asked for help. I was about to end up back on the streets again, but I had a pile of handmade bracelets, earrings and whatnot that were sat in my little online shop unsold. There were thousands of them. With help from the mods and other kind people, some of these sold and I was able to claw myself back from the brink a bit and get back on my feet a little.
These things need paying forward. I don’t have much, but I have beads. A shitload of beads.
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#How to help
**At the suggestion of the lovely mods**, if anyone would like to help out with postage, you can do so here: [**2024 mental health bead boxes**](https://charmsgaloreuk.com/products/2024-mhboxes).
There’s absolutely no requirement to do so, but people have asked how to help in the past, and postage the main thing I struggle with. It all goes into postage; the rise since last year’s giveaway from £1.15 to £1.55 for a 100g large letter is a bit of an arse.
**Edit:** I’m leaving a little note on any ‘order’ placed that’s a postage donation; I hope you can see them! I’m not sure what’s visible at your end. But thank you so, so much for any help <3
*(oh, also, if anyone has anything like spare leftover pretty tissue paper / C7 101 x 101 x 20mm mini postal boxes kicking around the place and not being used, please do let me know – I’ll very gladly pay the postage to get ‘em out of your way! <3 )*
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So yeah. Drop me a line if you fancy one, and I’ll sort it. I can also add in little personalised messages if you want to send one to a friend.
It might take me a little while to get them all out; I don’t want my postie to hate me because I’ve suddenly got 500 boxes in a range of sacks for him to haul away. But they’ll all go out, and if you want an update on if yours has gone yet then I do keep track of how many and which ones are posted on specific days, so I can let you know if it’s gone yet or not.
**Be groovy and stay safe**
~SaC
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You’re an excellent human
Wow, amazing 🙂
What’s the best way to get a free box, buy a box {maybe Halloween} and pay for free box p and p for someone else aswell.
All that therapy and SSRI’s, who knew all I needed was beads.