Community group aiming to support residents with mental health to start in Scarborough on Friday

Speak Out Community Support Group will be at Gallows Close Centre on Endcliffe Crescent between 9.30am and 11.30am.

The group was first launched on Facebook by local woman Helen Speak to offer support and a safe space for people to talk about issues they are facing.

Each week she has been choosing a topic to discuss - such as depression, anxiety or domestic violence - but group members are free to raise anything they would like help with.

Now Helen is branching out, with group meetings which will take place every Friday morning at Gallows Close Centre.

The group is open to anyone aged 18 or over. The sessions will be informal chats and there will be signposting to other services if people are in crisis and need specialist support, or another kind of help such as with housing.

Speak Out is also looking for volunteers to become team members, as well as sponsors.

Helen, originally from Halifax, moved to Scarborough seven years ago after 'a horrific few life events', including domestic violence.

She was supported into education, took several short courses and has volunteered with the Samaritans for five years.

Helen completed an access course at CU Scarborough and went on to complete a counselling degree at the university, from which she hopes to graduate this July after completing the required number of placement hours.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/SpeakOutcsg or call 07858 827701.