Member Article

Coalfields cash supports mental health in Derwentside

Thanks to £10,000 from the Coalfields Community Investment Programme, delivered by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, Derwentside Mind, the organisation that provides practical and emotional support to people aged between 18 – 25 years, will extend its services further.

Launching a project that will provide mental health services for people with emotional mental health problems, the specific services on offer will include one-to-one initial assessments, social access groups, individual talking and a series of courses, workshops and taster sessions.

Delivering these services in a safe, caring, non-judgmental and supportive environment, it is hoped that local residents in Derwentside and the wider Durham area will take the opportunity to access the professional advice and guidance on offer.

Brenda Greener, Manager of Derwentside Mind, comments: “We know that many of the people that access our support are struggling and, in some cases, can see no way out of the challenges they are facing with their mental health.

“The £10,000 we have secured will make all of the difference and will mean that we are able to extend our services further and have a positive impact on even more people.”

Chief Executive of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, Gary Ellis, comments: “When we were looking at our five-year strategy we recognised that while every coalfield community is different the challenges they face are often similar and sit within three priorities for action; employment, skills and health and wellbeing.

“With this insight we made it our mission to tackle these issues head-on and that is why offering funding to organisations like Derwentside Mind means we are able to use our network and extend our reach to have a positive and lasting impact.

“Many of the challenges that the coalfield communities face will not go away overnight. They need to be managed with professional support and guidance. Only then can we make the difference that will change lives for the better.”

As Derwentside Mind has become a member of Coalfield Community Investment Programme it will continue to be supported by the Trust and will receive bespoke practical support that includes everything from access to resources and services such as help with third-party funding applications and bid-writing, to tips on effective promotion and marketing.

Delivered by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, the Coalfields Community Investment Programme supports organisations and programmes of activity that meet with three key criteria; to address skills, employment or health and wellbeing.

The Coalfields Regeneration Trust was established in 1999 and is the only organisation dedicated to supporting former mining towns and villages.

Over the years more than 2m people have benefited from support delivered by the organisation. More than 25,500 people have been supported into work, 5,500 jobs have been created or safeguarded, 1.3m people have received the necessary support to help improve their skills and gain qualifications and over 250,000 people have participated in activities that have improve their health.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Nick Hill .