A Derbyshire mental health charity has been saved from closure after securing three years of National Lottery funding.
Bank House in Swadlincote had been without funding since it lost South Derbyshire County Council support in April 2017.
Service Manager Denise Shillabeer has worked for the charity for 17 years and said she was relieved the charity’s future has finally been resolved.
She said the year-long journey from losing council funding to receiving a National Lottery grant had been tough.
The 47-year-old said her “heart and soul is in Bank House” and was pleased her charity “has found a way to survive” after 12 months of fundraising.
In March 2017, Bank House launched a campaign to raise £100k in order to save the centre on Alexandra Road from closure as it was feared the centre would close in summer 2017.
However, the campaign received great support in South Derbyshire and even singer Ed Sheeran inked his friend and local tattooist Kevin Paul to raise funds.
A better look at my tattoo @edsheeran did the other day to help show what a great job @Bank_House_Swad are doing pic.twitter.com/pOo8AboXq3
— Kevin Paul Tattoo (@kp_est78) October 16, 2016
The Swadlincote charity provides accessible sessions for those with mental health problems, including five-a-side football, dancing, walking and swimming which are open for anyone to attend.
Despite now getting the grant, Denise admits the public’s donations were a lifeline and kept the charity going.
She said the charity was also delighted to receive TSB’s ‘Charity of the Year’ award for the South Derbyshire, East Staffordshire area in Autumn 2017.
She said Bank House was now developing their new build on Alexandra Road in Swadlincote to support adults with mental health issues for years to come.
