Chad has adopted the mental health charity to help it reduce the stigma attached to mental health difficulties and raise awareness of the work it carries out.

Central Notts Mind was formed in 1979 to support people with mental health difficulties both in their homes and communities –– including the districts of Mansfield and Ashfield.

The charity aims to support and encourage independence and the maintenance of good health, promote the interests and rights of people with mental health difficulties and provide services and activities to minimise the development of serious mental health difficulties.

Throughout the next 12 months, Chad will be bringing you news and updates on Central Notts Mind as we ask our readers to dig deep and help make it a successful charity year.

We are also hoping our readers can help the charity reach its additional aim for 2008 –– to raise £30,000 to bring its Concord House premises on St John Street in Mansfield up to modern requirements while maintaining its dedicated staff.

Central Notts Mind general manager Girish Ravat told Chad he is thrilled his organisation has been chosen as Chad charity for 2008.

“A lot of people do not understand what mental health difficulties are and there is often great stigma attached to the term,” he said.

“We hope that being named as Chad charity will help people get a better understanding of mental health difficulties and raise enough money to modernise our buildings without making sacrifices elsewhere.”

The charity’s fundraising co-ordinator Florence Hutchings told Chad the extra publicity should help boost all mental health charities, which she says are often forgotten about.

“One in four people will experience a mental health difficulty at some point in their adult life and yet mental health charities are often what I call the ‘Cinderella’ of all charities because people would rather give to other organisations before ours,” said Florence.

“It is important that people do understand that mental health difficulties can affect anyone and can be anything from minor cases of excessive worries to more serious difficulties such as dementia.”

lAnybody wanting to organise a charity collection or event for Central Notts Mind, or make a donation, should contact the charity’s office on Mansfield 658044.