Lulu has called on anyone struggling with their mental health to speak out, as she prepares to lead a charity walk in aid of her new fund.

The singer, 76, best known for 1960s hits Shout and Boom Bang-a-Bang, is marking the launch of Lulu’s Mental Health Trust with its first fundraising event – a sponsored walk retracing key moments from her six-decade career.

Speaking ahead of the event, Lulu told The Mirror: ‘If you’re struggling, please talk to someone. A friend, a family member, anyone trained to listen. It might feel scary, but you’ve got this.’

The walk will pᴀss the old Decca Studios in West Hampstead, where Lulu recorded Shout, and other London landmarks linked to her life in music. 

So far, she’s raised around £16,000 in sponsorship.

Lulu, who launched the trust earlier this year after wrapping up her sell-out farewell tour, was inspired to start the fund while working on a book about her life and recognising the deep impact of mental health, both her own and those close to her.

Lulu has called on anyone struggling with their mental health to speak out, as she prepares to lead a charity walk in aid of her new fund

The singer, 76, best known for 1960s hits Shout and Boom Bang-a-Bang, is marking the launch of Lulu’s Mental Health Trust with its first fundraising event – a sponsored walk retracing key moments from her six-decade career

Reflecting on the shift in public atтιтudes, she said: ‘When I started out, nobody talked about mental health. Now we know how important it is. I want to give back.’

She added: ‘To be doing this after everything I’ve been through, it feels full circle. I’ve always supported charities, but setting up my own to help others really means something.’

Taking to her Instagram at the beginning of the year to launch the trust, the star  penned: ‘I’m proud to announce my very own charitable fund, Lulu’s Mental Health Trust.

‘Writing my memoir opened my eyes to the huge role mental health has played throughout my life and the lives of the people I love. 

‘With this charitable fund, I want to give help those going through their own struggles and make a difference.

‘For my first initiative, on 16th May I’ll be leading a sponsored walk across London. Hit the link in my bio to sponsor me!’

It follows Lulu announcing her retirement from touring after a glittering 60-year career in 2024 – saying she felt ‘unsupported’ dealing with the heavy demands of touring last year.

The Scottish star, real name Lulu Kennedy-Cairns, said she found going on the road ‘gruelling’, while adding she’s realised that she has changed.

Lulu, who launched the trust earlier this year after wrapping up her sell-out farewell tour, was inspired to start the fund while working on a book about her life and recognising the deep impact of mental health, both her own and those close to her

Taking to her Instagram at the beginning of the year to launch the trust, the star penned how proud she was to set up the trust and revealed what the first initiative would be 

Lulu, has been honoured with an OBE and CBE and won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1969 with the hit ‘Boom Bang-a-Bang

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Speaking on the Rosebud podcast last year, the singer explained her reasoning a bit further.

She said: ‘I turned 75, and I thought, ‘You know what, I want to carry on working, but I want to do it a different way’… I’ve learned. 

‘And I’ve also become a slightly different person. I’m not afraid to be vulnerable.’

She added: ‘To be honest with you, if when I was 15 years old and someone would have suggested I’d be doing a farewell tour when I’m 75, I’d have said ‘You are having a laugh.’ 

‘You almost need an army to go on the road and I don’t want to do it like this anymore.’

Lulu, has been honoured with an OBE and CBE and won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1969 with the hit ‘Boom Bang-a-Bang’.

It was at the age of just 15 when her version of the Isley Brothers ‘Shout’ peaked at number seven on the UK chart and she went on to have a hit with with the тιтle song to the 1974 James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun.