A SCHEME to support vulnerable children has been boosted by a donation from a mayor's fundraising year.

Darlington Mind’s Young Persons Self Harm Prevention Project received a generous donation of £3,800 from Councillor Jan Taylor, who was the Mayor of Darlington for 2017-18.

Gary Emerson, of Darlington Mind, said: “We want to thank both Councillors Jan and Chris Taylor for their kind donation toward our work with children and young people who are at risk of self-harming.

"More than 1,800 young people aged 11 to 18 have now attended one of our self-harm prevention awareness sessions and we aim to deliver to 1200 more over the next 12 months.”

The charity also provided specialist counselling to 24 children last year who had been affected in some way by self-harm and provides a regular drop-in for children and their parents at the Dolphin Centre. Cllr Taylor's fundraising will help provide more counselling sessions and cover the cost of hiring the Dolphin Centre.

The charity is the area’s largest voluntary sector mental health agency and provides services from bases in Darlington, Northallerton, Bedale, Richmond, Colburn, Stokesley, Catterick and Bainbridge. With a team of 50 staff and 75 volunteers, the charity provides a range of services for people with mental health problems including a day centre for older people with dementia, a housing and hostel service for adults, ICT training, a young person’s self-harm prevention project and a drop-in service.

Further information can be obtained by calling the Darlington Office on 01325-283169.