A CHARITY has received a massive cash boost to help it to continue to support young people dealing with mental health issues.

Darlington Mind has been awarded a grant of £33,365 by the Virgin Money Foundation to help deliver a new and exciting weekend café for young people.

The charity will establish the ‘De-Café’ specifically for young people who need somewhere to go at weekends for advice, information, support and guidance.

The informal space, created in its existing Mood Food Cafe, will be staffed by experienced mental health youth workers who will be on hand to support anyone aged 11 to 18 who has issues with low mood, anxiety, depression or who is at risk of self-harming.

There will be access to a Counselling service, regular trips out to places of interest, art and creative craft therapies and a range of other services.

In addition, the Co-op Foundation have given a grant of £10,000 to re-fit the café, provide artwork, new fittings and furniture to make the space exciting, interesting and inviting.

Darlington Mind chief executive officer Gary Emerson said “This is a great opportunity to develop a new service for young people who are struggling with mental health issues. We are grateful to both the Virgin Money Foundation and the Co-op Foundation for their generosity.”

Darlington Mind is the area’s largest voluntary sector mental health agency and provides services from bases in Darlington, Northallerton, Bedale, Richmond, Colburn, Stokesley, Catterick and Bainbridge. With a team of 38 staff and 50 volunteers, the charity provides a range of services for people with mental health problems.