Lola Bute, Founder, Eternity Movement
Eternity Movement is a fundraising platform set up by Lola Bute to tackle the stigma surrounding mental health, suicide and addiction, which alongside Action on Addiction supports the charities Place 2 Be, Youth Anxiety Centre and James’ Place.
Eternity, does not stop at fundraising. As the name suggests, it is a movement which incorporates aspects of social, cultural and artistic life, asks difficult questions of us, and challenges our attitudes towards mental health, suicide and addiction - always with the object of affecting healing and positive change.
There is a searing passion and the strongest of convictions behind everything originating from Eternity that life is precious and should be celebrated, and a determined dedication to charities such as Action on Addiction, St James Place, Place 2B and Youth Anxiety Centre - which help people overcome obstacles to live their best possible lives.
The Eternity Movement was founded by Lola Bute, drawing on her own life experiences to choose the combination of charities to support. "There’s not one charity that deals with these issues all as one, but as someone who’s in recovery I know that they all come hand in hand. I have experienced first hand that these are the epidemic of my generation. I feel compelled to give back to those who I have loved and lost, and help make a difference for those still suffering."
Speaking speficially about addiction, Lola says "there’s such a misconception around addiction – these are all just outlets for an emptiness within, they’re not the core of the problem. My goal is to try and help people understand that in a broader way. And it’s about remembering the people I’ve loved and lost. I was on a destructive path and I made a decision to show the people I’ve lost that their lives aren’t in vain and I’m doing something to make them proud… And I want Eternity to be a real movement that helps all kinds of people. I want it to reach everyone I can.’
In 2020, its first year, and despite the limitations of the pandemic related restrictions, Eternity Movement had the most incredible start.
Here are just some of the projects that Eternity Movement initiated in 2020:
On March 26, 2020 the Eternity Movement were about to host their first large-scale fundraising event.
The pandemic very sadly saw the event cancelled - however preceding the event Eternity had already been able to raise over £250,000 - a truly overwhelming figure, which was distributed between the charities.
March 2020 also saw the launch the next Eternity project, a collaboration with The Pound Project. The book "Loss and Hope," was strictly limited edition collection curated by Scarlett Curtis, Lola Bute and Jonah Freud, featuring poignant reflections from artists, authors, actors, directors, experts and parents confronting their own pain and grief, to offer hope to those still suffering, and to say: "We must act now."
Available only online between March 8th and April 18, the book was a well-deserved success, selling out of its original print run.
In November 2020 another creative fundraising initiative was launched by Eternity with partners Rose Of The Wild Bunch - selling custom made silk bandanas designed by Lola Bute and Esme Lane Fox, using original artwork from the late Kai Schachter and his brother Adrian Schachter. The exquisite bandanas of course sold out very quickly.
The Kai Charm, a touching tribute celebrating the life of artist Kai Schacter, was the first collaboration with House of Roxy, an ethical jewelry brand - but it won't be the last. A green number 7 (Kai's lucky number) formed from peridot gemstones, on a gold plated chain, the Kai charm sold out within 10 hours of it's drop.
A special edition of Kai Charm in solid 18kt gold and Emeralds was also made available.
Eternity Movement rounded off 2020 with an incredible socially distanced art exhibition and auction showcasing work by some of their most talented supporters. The exhibition, which included artwork donated by Tracy Emin, Robert Montgomery, Henry Hudson and Adrian Schachter, with show-stealing not-for-sale centerpiece by the late Kai Schacher, focused on how young artists process their struggles through creative expression; how art can be a clear voice when the words are too difficult to say aloud.
Lola Bute said "expressing oneself through the arts is beautiful, and so brave when it puts the fears and frailty of the artist on display. I am in awe, and so proud of those who are able to communicate in this way. I am so grateful to all of the amazing artists and creatives involved. This would not be possible without each and every one of you."