A Coventry business leader is appealing to fellow firms to ‘be kind this Christmas’ after launching a campaign to raise money – and awareness – for a local mental health charity.

Mark Farr, the CEO of Purple Planet Packaging, has drawn on personal experience as the business – based on the Seven Stars Industrial Estate – unveiled a Christmas cup with a message of support for Coventry, Warwickshire and Worcestershire Mind (CWW Mind).

The company, which sells responsible packaging and containers for the food and drink industry – from cups to food-trays and from cutlery to take-away boxes, will donate £2 of profits on each case of its Christmas cups ordered.

The sustainable cups feature the simple message – ‘be kind this Christmas’ – as well as a QR code that takes users to a webpage where they can donate to CWW Mind and explore mental health support available over the festive period.

The campaign has already gained support from the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce and Councillor Rachel Lancaster, the Lord Mayor of Coventry.

CWW Mind will earmark any funds raised to support its community allotments based close to the Arches Industrial Estate in the city.

The allotments offer a sanctuary to those facing mental health issues as space to grow fresh produce, much of which is sold on or turned into products such as chutney.

For more information or to donate go to the JustGiving page at justgiving.com