A Durham mental health charity says that a £2,000 grant will help them to meet "fast-growing demand."

The St Margaret's Centre, which uses arts to support the well-being of local people, has seen a 220 per cent rise in demand in the last two years.

The centre, which is based on Margery Lane, Durham City, aims to improve the health and well-being of people in County Durham by providing a safe, therapeutic environment for them to regain their confidence, motivation and self-esteem.

It hosts a range of therapeutic activities, including woodwork, joinery, arts and crafts and gardening.

A £2,000 grant from the Banks Community Fund will help to cover the materials and tuition costs for the centre's arts and crafts sessions.

Lisa Harrison, deputy manager at the St Margaret's Centre, said: "We try to maintain a maximum two-week waiting time between someone coming into contact with us and them being able to access sessions, meaning we are often that person's first meaningful interaction with community support for their mental health needs and that demand for places at our sessions is always high.

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"We have seen people who had previously not left their homes in months and even years rebuilding their self-esteem, developing new confidence and finding incredible talents that they never knew they had.

"Keeping up with our running costs in the face of such fast-growing demand is always a real challenge, so we’re hugely grateful for Banks’ support in helping us meet it."

The centre has over 300 people currently having active referrals for its services and around one-sixth of these people have an autism diagnosis.

Kate Culverhouse, community relations manager at the Banks Group, said: "The St Margaret’s team makes a positive difference to the lives of hundreds of people across our home county at the times when they need it the most.

"Seeing both the creative and personal outcomes they help to deliver shows just how effective their work is and we’re very pleased to be supporting such an impactful charity."