Campaigners launch new mental health charity at Cromer football club

A mental health campaign group have launched a new charity to support people in north Norfolk after a number of suicides among young men in Cromer.

It comes after the parents of 19-year-old Nyall Brown and 22-year-old Adam Brown, who both took their own lives last year, raised fears about a lack of local services and cited poor support as a factor in their sons’ deaths.

And now mental health workers Chris Ainsworth, Terry Skyrme and Paul Free have joined forces with the town’s football club to set up a charity aiming to support those struggling to feel less alone.

The charity, Share As One for Mental Health is based at Cromer Football Club, at Cabbell Park.

Club chairwoman and charity founder Jenna Bedwell said: “We’re applying for grants from the council, National Lottery, and Norfolk Community Foundation.”

The charity will offer a weekly drop-in, launching Tuesday, April 2, from 10am to 4pm, and be open to anyone who needs their help.

Mr Ainsworth said: “The aim of the charity is to provide facilities for people in north Norfolk who live with mental illness.

“We’re going to offer a weekly drop-in. The idea will be anybody can come along, get information about mental health, housing issues, money, debt, or benefits.

“We also want to engage with people, and provide a friendly place where they can come and meet others who suffer from mental illnesses as well.”