A new project unique to South Holland has received more than £10,000 in funding to help those in need of emergency mental health support.
Community Mind Matters have teamed up with Spalding’s Tonic Health charity to start a new “Safe-Places” scheme for the area.
The aim is to offer safety reassurances in the form of guidance from trained members of a safe places network.
The initiative has been trialled successfully in a number of areas throughout the country, but it is a first for South Holland.
Coun Jack McLean, who represents the Spalding St Johns ward, explained that businesses will now be contacted and offered the opportunity to join the scheme.
He commented: “We’re still working on the finer details, but know what direction we’re going in. The local business community will be invited to partake in free training to both expertly deal with mental health and also offer the same training to others in the same organisation.
“As a representative of that organisation, the premises is then added to the list of local safe places.
“The safe places can then be promoted via the media, on social media and through local medical centres.
“People will then be able to make use of the scheme when out and about with friends or family suffering with mental health conditions or if they are in need of support.
“By the new year, we hope to see businesses across the town proudly labelling themselves as safe places with fully trained staff.
“The intention is to make the information as accessible as possible for anyone in need of emergency assistance for themselves or a friend/family member.
“We believe a large part of that will be to provide the information using every available resource.
“We can then later adapt the scheme using the feedback from the people that have benefitted the most.”
