Award-winning mental health charity receives financial boost from City Councillor.
Lib Dem Councillor Duncan Banks, who represents Monkston, has donated half of his ward budget to Arthur Ellis Mental Health Foundation.
The funding will go towards providing a free first session of mental health counselling for local residents, ensuring more people can access vital support without the burden of long waiting lists.
Arthur Ellis Mental Health Foundation offers one-to-one health and wellbeing support for children and young people aged 8-25 years, as well as adults 26 and over.
The charity provides personalised professional guidance to those in need, helping people who are struggling to better navigate mental health challenges with immediate access to the support they need.
Councillor Banks, said: “Mental health support is more critical now than ever. With significant delays to treatment often worsening symptoms, residents are incredibly fortunate to be able to access the help they need, when they need it. I am proud to be able to support the Arthur Ellis Mental Health Foundation.”
Jon Manning, Founder of Arthur Ellis Mental Health Support, added: “We are incredibly grateful to Councillor Banks for this generous contribution. This funding means more people in our community will be able to access vital mental health support without the waiting times currently faced. At Arthur Ellis, we believe no one should have to reach crisis point before receiving help—and this donation brings us one step closer to that goal.”
Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Jane Carr, added: “Early intervention can make a huge difference, not only by easing stress for individuals and their loved ones, but also to prevent further challenges down the line. Arthur Ellis does fantastic work across the city all whilst reducing the pressure felt on NHS services. This award is a well-deserved recognition of their impact in the community, and I’m pleased to see the return of their wellbeing festival taking place later this year.”
This year, residents are invited to Arthur Ellis’ 2025 Wellbeing Festival, which is taking place on Sunday 24 August at the scenic Great Linford Manor Park.
The FREE family-friendly festival is returning for a second year, with activities from local organisations focusing on supporting wellbeing through five key areas: Move, Focus, Discover, Communicate, and Help.
To learn more about the upcoming Wellbeing Festival, visit https://arthurellismhs.com/resources/wellbeing-festival
To find out more about how Arthur Ellis MHS support the local community, visit www.arthurellismhs.com
