FUNDING from the National Lottery will help a local mental health charity continue and expand its Hub services to reach around 500 people over the next three years.
Tunbridge Wells-based Mental Health Resource provides support for over 800 people every year through four key projects, but its core Hub project helped nearly 200 people last year.
Now, a new National Lottery Community Fund grant of £353,000 over three years will allow Mental Health Resource to reach an additional 300 people over that period, said Jen Williams, the charity’s Fundraising and Marketing Manager.
Hub activities provide residents who need support with their mental health with a safe space to talk and a timetable of various free activities, from arts and crafts to walking.
Activities are based at 2a Grosvenor Road and at other sites, including the charity’s own allotment, Grosvenor and Hilbert Park, Trinity Theatre, and wellbeing walks in the countryside.
A new 18-25 peer support group and a volunteer programme are also part of the Hub expansion, Ms Williams added.
This is the second time the charity has received National Lottery funding, but the earlier funding, received in 2019, had been due to help establish a befriending service whose operations were curtailed by the pandemic.
Ms Williams said: “Thanks to National Lottery players, this grant means that we can reach even more people in our town who desperately need support at this really challenging time.
“This will make a huge difference to people’s lives.”
Find more information at: mentalhealthresource.org.uk/Listing/Category/our-services
