A MENTAL health charity based in Highbridge will benefit from a £2,000 donation to help with running costs and overheads this year.

Housebuilders Bloor Homes have donated the money to In Charley's Memory, which was founded in 2015, in memory of local man Charley Marks who sadly took his own life.

The charity aims to raise awareness about mental health support for young people and encourage them to seek help when it is needed.

In Charley's Memory offers one-to-one counselling services that are not limited to time, but instead are tailored to what the young person needs, whist remaining affordable.

Initially helping people aged 11-26, In Charley's Memory has grown year on year responding to demand and now employs a permanent team of counsellors, as well as working with student counsellors from across Somerset to help with their training.

To find out more about how the services offered by In Charley's Memory work and how they can support a young person or adult in need, visit: www.incharleysmemory.com

Cllr Alistair Hendry, who approached Bloor Homes on behalf of the charity and will be providing ongoing help to them said: “We were delighted that Bloor Homes agreed to the donation without hesitation.”

Dawn Carey, Chief Executive Officer at the charity, said “We rely on fundraising and charitable donations to meet our overheads and ensure our services are available to those who need them, when they need them.

“This year our running costs are £260,000, and with our remit now expanding to adults over the age of 26 and covering a wider area, including Burnham-on-Sea and beyond, helping 190 young people each week, we are grateful for the support provided by business donors like Bloor Homes.”

Stephanie Ubl, Sales Manager for Bloor Homes’ Brue Place development in Highbridge, said: “It has been very humbling to hear about the important work In Charley's Memory does with young people in Highbridge and across the region, and how increased demand for mental health support for young people has driven its growth.

“As a company we take mental health very seriously and seeing a charity close to our development in Highbridge working so hard to provide a positive intervention for young people at the earliest point, and one that is tailored to their needs, is something we are really proud to support.”