Great Yarmouth and Waveney Mind has celebrated its 35th birthday with an event to showcase its new premises and the services it provides.

The celebration, held at its newly acquired and renovated premises in Deneside, Great Yarmouth, was officially opened by the Mayor of Great Yarmouth John Burroughs. Brandon Lewis MP for Great Yarmouth attended the event, along with staff, service users and the charity’s partners.

Local residents were also invited to find out about the work the charity does to promote the recovery, growth and wellbeing of people suffering from mental distress.

Members of Young People in Mind, which runs regular youth social groups from the new premises, staged a cycling challenge as an example of the activities on offer to boost confidence and get active.

Those involved in one of the charity’s biggest projects, Community Roots, which uses gardening activities to promote social inclusion and continued learning, showcased a willow basket weaving activity and flower arranging.

Perry Marshall, chief executive of Great Yarmouth and Waveney Mind, said: “We are very happy to have moved into our new building as it provides us with more space and an all-round better environment for our work. The new premises will mean we can develop further services and help more people to gain confidence and change their lives for the better.

“We are proud to have been supporting the local community since the 1970s, and with one in four British adults currently suffering from some form of mental ill-health, it is more important than ever that local people know we’re here to support them.”

Mr Lewis said: “Great Yarmouth and Waveney Mind has continued to provide unparalleled support and care to people in the constituency of Great Yarmouth and further afield in Norfolk and Suffolk.

“Mental wellbeing should be a topic we can discuss openly, without discrimination. Therefore I hope that the charity’s relocation to the new Deneside premises will make more people aware of the great work they do.”

Mayor Burroughs, said: “The charity that has been an invaluable service to our community for over three decades.

“I am delighted to support the charity in its work and commend the staff and volunteers for all they do to help promote and protect good mental health in the area.”

Mind is the largest voluntary mental health service in the Yarmouth and Waveney area, offering support services to people with mental health issues including anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, dementia, phobias and eating disorders.

The charity began its work in the area in 1978.

And it has a wide reaching catchment area across Norfolk and Suffolk, including Beccles, Belton, Bradwell, Bungay, Caister, Filby, Fleggburgh, Gorleston, Great Yarmouth, Halesworth, Hemsby, Hopton, Kessingland, Lowestoft, Martham, Ormesby, Scratby, Southwold and Winterton.

Further services and activities run by GYW Mind include constructive leisure activities, education, volunteering and work, mental health first aid training, counselling, bereavement groups, carer support, a befriending service and culturally sensitive emotional support for people from black and ethnic minorities.

The charity’s new premises can offer rooms for groups or organisations for meetings, conferences and training events from two to 40 people.

• To find out more about Great Yarmouth and Waveney Mind, visit the website www.gywmind.org.uk or call the office on 01493 842129.