Mental Health Services Saved

Mental health services used by hundreds of people in Newport – and around 20 jobs – are safe following a successful campaign to maintain annual funding of more than £250,000.

Newport Mind, which provides services every week for around 500 people with mental health difficulties, was in danger of losing much of its regular funding because the Assembly considered distributing voluntary sector cash in a different way.

But after a campaign which included lobbying health minister Dr Brian Gibbons at Assembly headquarters, the £255,000 funding is safe.

“It is only one year’s funding, but hopefully we will find a way of settling the issue more satisfactorily next time,” said Newport Mind director Lynne Guy.