WIRRAL MIND is now able to operate from a new, purpose-designed building thanks to a £647,000 grant from the National Lottery Charities Board - the building opened last week by royal visitor Princess Alexandra.

Wirral MIND provides mental health services for 18-65 year-olds and currently has 500 service users across the agency. With the benefits of the National Lottery grant, the group intends to increase its 50 daily 'drop in' users to 150 within 12 months.

The new centre provides an ideal location to develop the services offered by the two full-time employees and 30 volunteers, who range from graduates gaining work experience to qualified specialist counsellors. The services vary from financial, legal and housing advice to self-help training groups and community business opportunities.

Business development manager for Wirral MIND, Lyn McAllister, said: "Before we received the grant we had to operate from one room in a church basement, but this new building provides the foundation for an excellent service in the Wirral area. MIND now has complete disability access allowing us to be available to the whole community."

Teresa Kostiuk, regional centre manager for Camelot in Liverpool, added: "Wirral MIND can now seek to provide an excellent range of services from a suitable environment. This will be a benefit to the entire community, and I am delighted that money raised by The National Lottery money has contributed to such a cause."

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