Another mental health support unit for youth funded by the LPP Foundation

A new facility supporting mental health among youth has been set up in Gdańsk. Galeria Przymorze is now home to the third Blue Sneakers club – a space where young people can spend meaningful time and get support from mental health professionals. The initiative has been developed and implemented by the FOSA Foundation, with the LPP Foundation serving as its strategic partner and sole funder of the new facility. The Blue Sneakers club in Przymorze has been launched in cooperation with the city of Gdańsk, IKEA and Galeria Przymorze.

This initiative addresses the growing problem of limited access to psychological support and responds to the rising depression rates among youth. Its goal is to create a safe space where young people can connect during their free time and get professional support. So far, two Blue Sneakers clubs have been opened in Gdańsk: one in the Forum Shopping Center, funded by the City of Gdańsk, and the other one at Galeria Metropolia, funded by the LPP Foundation. Support for the newly opened location at Galeria Przymorze continues the LPP Foundation’s commitment to helping children and youth in the Pomeranian Voivodeship.

– We’re very proud to see another Blue Sneaker club appear on Gdańsk’s map. This is the second club we fully fund as the LPP Foundation – notes Patrycja Zbytniewska, President of the LPP Foundation. – Our main goal is to give young people a direct opportunity to consult and talk to specialists. This is why, in addition to supporting the nationwide Youth Helpline, we fund the operations of Blue Sneakers clubs. These are not only support clubs for youth, but also fantastic initiatives such as first day of spring concerts, social campaigns and school competitions. All these activities complement the LPP Foundation’s mission to support young people. In today’s precarious world, safety and stability represent basic needs we, as adults, must provide for young people.

Breaking barriers to mental health support

The club’s location is intentional. Our Blue Sneakers clubs aim to eliminate barriers to psychological support for young people. Specialists visit places where youth enjoy spending their time after school and extracurricular activities, in order to respond to their expectations and meet them in their natural environment, outside the typical psychologist’s office. The Blue Sneakers clubs provide a safe space for teenagers aged 14–18, where they can unwind, talk, share experiences, have fun and make new friends. The clubs host themed workshops, tournaments and educational meetings focused on health and well-being. Young people also have the opportunity to talk to psychologists, educators and outreach workers in a welcoming environment. This model helps them feel understood, supported and cared for.

– For many years now, the FOSA Foundation has been supporting residents not only of Gdańsk but also of the Gdańsk County through youth clubs, supported housing and an Information and Consultation Point – explains Dastin Suski, Vice President of the FOSA Foundation. – Our original project Blue Sneakers is not just a youth club; it also includes school workshops, social campaigns, psychoeducation for parents and guardians, direct interventions and specialist support. We’re thrilled that the LPP Foundation, like us, is aware of the needs of young people and supports their journey towards safety and trust.

Figures confirm the need for such places

The statistics from the two previously established clubs in 2024 confirm the need to create more such support facilities. Last year, the Blue Sneakers club in the Forum Shopping Centre welcomed 731 new participants. The record number of visitors in a single day was 69 young people (2 April 2024). Similarly, the fully LPP Foundation-funded Blue Sneakers club at Galeria Metropolia welcomed 729 new visitors last year, 222 of whom visited the club more than once. The highest daily attendance at this location was 42 people (20 December 2024).

Our Blue Sneakers clubs provide much more than a meeting space for young people. They are also a safe haven that can protect young people from danger, as shown by the statistics. At the Forum Shopping Center location in 2024, staff intervened 97 times to assist individuals whose lives or safety were at risk. At the Metropolia club, 48 such cases were recorded. These figures clearly show how much such initiatives and support for young people are needed.

Cross-sector cooperation

The opening of the Blue Trampki club in Przymorze is a notable example of successful cross-sector cooperation between the municipal government, a non-governmental organisation and business. In addition to the LPP Foundation, which fully finances the project, the initiative by the FOSA Foundation is also supported by the City of Gdańsk, IKEA and Galeria Przymorze.

– In Gdańsk, when a problem arises, we meet to talk and seek solutions together – that’s exactly how Blue Sneakers came about – says Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, Mayor of Gdańsk. – This is now the third such centre, a result of real partnership among NGOs, businesses, institutions and the city. Our Gdańsk Mental Health Protection Programme is a concrete response to growing challenges – in 2025, we are allocating over 6 million PLN to it. Prevention, education, raising awareness of others’ needs: these are the foundations of our mental health efforts. I’m glad that this place will serve young people – not only as a space but as an impetus for action and dialogue. I believe that, once again, Gdańsk can be a role model for others.

With three active clubs in Gdansk, Blue Sneakers is evolving into increasingly accessible options for young people in Pomerania, providing a safe haven and the fastest and most effective aid during difficult times. They are designed not only for those with psychological issues. There are no entry barriers to the club – absolutely any young person, for example, one feeling lonely or struggling to find friendship in their environment, can come in, spend time and feel they are not alone. The Blue Sneakers club in Galeria Przymorze has been open since July, operating from Monday to Friday, 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM, on level +1.

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LPP is a Polish family-owned company, one of the fastest growing in the fashion industry in the Central European region. For 30 years now, it has been successfully designing and selling its collections and accessories both at home and abroad. LPP manages 5 fashion brands: Reserved, Cropp, House, Mohito and Sinsay, with their product ranges now available for sale in shops and online in 42 markets worldwide. The company has nearly 3,000 shops, with a total area of more than 2.5 million m2, distributing products to 3 continents every year. LPP also has a vital role in creating jobs for more than 54,000 people in offices and retail structures in Poland, Europe, Asia and Africa. The company is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange under the WIG20 index and belongs to the prestigious MSCI Poland Index.