A CHARITY is celebrating after securing funding from the National Lottery to help people with mental health issues.

Home Start provides support and friendship for families and has secured funding from the National Lottery for the next three years for the project “Healthy Minds Healthy Families.” The funding is aimed to support people and families who are affected by mental health problems by providing a specialised staff member and trained volunteers to work on a one-to-one basis.

One in four people are affected by mental health problems, and the project hopes to make those affected better by increasing their confidence and self esteem through a program of what co-ordinator Charlotte Cook says will “open up communication.”

“We’re receiving lottery funding for the next three years and that money will be used to help children, adults and families,” she added.

“The money means that we’ll be able to ensure consistency for families and individuals. It means that I will see an individual, and then a specially trained volunteer will spend time with the person.

“It can be very frustrating for people to have to keep explaining their problems to different people, and this money will mean that our one-to-one service in the family home can be achieved.”

Charlotte explained that while the Lottery funding will help the charity, the core work of the organisation will not be forgotten.

“Alongside our core work which will continue as normal, we’re still going to be constantly seeking funding to help people that are suffering with mental health.”

In addition to stalls, tea and cakes, the event also had a steel band present in a move to “uplift people.”

“I wasn’t expecting them to be so loud!” Charlotte continued.

“It’s about bringing a bit of sunshine to Autumn. A hint of Barbados perhaps! If people remember nothing else but the steel band then that’s fine with me, as long as people know we’re here to provide support for anyone who suffers with mental help issues.”