Making A Difference for shoppers

Buy photos » Make A Difference founders Chloe Laight, 16, and Scott Penlington, 18, with Coun Rebecca Blake. Picture by Marcus Mingins 5012014MMR.

CAMPAIGNERS received a warm welcome as they took to the streets to promote mental health awareness.

Members of the Make A Difference group handed out more than 800 leaflets over the weekend (December 15 and 16) in the town centre in a bid to promote their cause.

As well as aiming to highlight services available to support residents experiencing mental health problems, the group is hoping to put pressure on Worcestershire County Council to cage a bridge over the Bromsgrove Highway where two men lost their lives this summer.

A spokeswoman for the campaign said: "We were really pleased to be able to hand out so many leaflets to shoppers, as well as contact details for organisations such as Samaritans and Redditch Nightstop.

"We'd like to thank those who took the time to talk to us about the campaign and a special thanks to Michael from Samaritans for joining us to help spread the word."

Coun Rebecca Blake, who co-ordinated the event, said: "I was pleased so many people took the information including contact details for Samaritans and MIND.

"When you consider that one in four people will experience some kind of mental health problem, we hope the details will prove useful. People also stopped to ask about the Make A Difference campaign and gave their support."

Search 'Make A Difference Redditch' on Facebook or e-mail makeadifferenceredditch@hotmail.co.uk for more information about the group.

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