MENTAL health services in North Cumbria have been handed a significant boost by a local NHS Trust.

The SHINE fund, the official charity of Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW) has awarded a £49,000 grant to the Together We community interest company.

The money will be used to set up a new ‘recovery college’ to support people’s mental health and wellbeing in North Cumbria.

The college will provide a free programme of courses and workshops, aimed at helping people improve their wellbeing and recover from mental health issues.

These will be developed and delivered by peers, who themselves have their own experiences of mental illness.

It is hoped the first courses can be delivered online by May this year, with in-person courses starting across the north of the county from July as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Together We CIC combines mental and physical wellbeing support to provide a fully inclusive service to people of all ages across Cumbria.

Sisters Janine Ward and Samantha Joughin were inspired to launch the organisation in 2017 after their brother died by suicide.

Janine, managing director of Together We CIC, said: “We wanted to provide a unique and responsive service to those with mental health problems, helping people to live worthwhile and meaningful lives.

“Since 2017 we have grown considerably. We put the individual at the centre of their recovery journey and support them to make a difference in their lives.”

“We are over the moon to have the great opportunity to lead on this across North Cumbria.

“We envisage a peer-led college that covers the whole of North Cumbria. We will work closely with partner organisations and people with lived experience to offer a wide range of courses that will continue to grow and develop.

“This recovery college will offer everyone the opportunity to learn from each other and to develop skills to help them on their journey to recovery, whatever that means to each individual. It will also enable people to form the connections and friendships.

“The college will be accessible to any adults in North Cumbria who want to improve their mental health and wellbeing.”

The first Recovery College was launched in London in 2010, and there are now more than 75 across the world.