ESTERO Lounge in Monmouth have raised an impressive £1,918.10 for Mind in Gwent, the local mental health charity, as part of the nationwide Lounge Aid campaign.

Led by staff members Isobel Mills and Lily Collins, their fundraising efforts brought together team members, customers, friends, family and the wider Monmouth community.

The support was nothing short of inspiring and included; Hiking up Pen-y-Fan, bake sales, car washing, music and quiz nights.

Steph Thomas, Wellbeing Lead at Mind in Gwent, said: “We’re incredibly thankful for the passion, energy, and generosity shown by the team at Estero Lounge. Their efforts and the amazing support from the Monmouth community mean the world to us.

“At Mind in Gwent, we’re here for anyone struggling with their mental health, whether it’s stress, anxiety, depression, or simply needing someone to talk to, We offer confidential one-to-one support, counselling, benefits advice, housing support, and more

“You’re never alone, so please don’t hesitate to reach out.”

Mind in Gwent was formed in October 2023, following the merger of Mind Monmouthshire, Newport Mind and Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent Mind, to create a unified organisation dedicated to mental health and wellbeing across the region.

According to Mind, one in five young people have a mental health issue, but sometimes they aren’t able to get access to support when they first need it.

The charity suggested the earlier a young person gets support for their mental health the more effective the support will be.

They are calling on the UK Government to try and fund a network of early support hubs which young people across England and Wales can attend.

Since 2023-2024, the charity have answered around 122,000 queries which were answered by their helplines.

You can find more information on the Mind website: www.mindingwent.org.uk