A charity helping people living with mental illness has received a six-figure donation.

Mental Health Resource in Tunbridge Wells will use a £327,0000 grant to fund its Hub project for the next three years.

The hub is a centre offering wellbeing activities and a safe space to talk for people who need support with their emotional and mental wellbeing.

Rachley Corry is charity manager of the service, which helped 950 people last year.

She said: "We’re thrilled that The National Lottery has recognised our work in this way. Now, thanks to the National Lottery players, we’ll be able to reach even more people in our community who need support with their emotional and mental wellbeing as well as continuing to support our existing clients."

Mental Health Resource runs five key projects across west Kent.

They are The Hub, an out of hours crisis cafe, an advocacy service for people detained under the Mental Health Act and outreach projects for adults and young people.

The Hub was first set up in 1995 and supports more than 200 people a year, offering 22 free wellbeing activities a week, ranging from creative writing to walking groups and an allotment group.

The new funding from The National Lottery Community Fund will also establish a new outreach group at The Hub, Time 4 U.

The aim of the group is to train existing clients to become outreach volunteers who can provide help to those who may be housebound or agoraphobic.

Greg Clark, MP for Tunbridge Wells and patron of Mental Health Resource, said: "As one in four people will experience poor mental health at some point in their lives I am delighted that the National Lottery has awarded funding to Mental Health Resource so that they are able to continue to provide much-needed mental health support in our local community.”

The Hub Team added: “Staff are delighted to be able to continue to offer essential and compassionate mental health support to those who need it most. For many, the Hub is a real life-line, so funding from the National Lottery Community Fund helps us continue to reach the most vulnerable people in our borough."

Read more: All the latest news from Tunbrige Wells