THE average bag of items donated to Mind’s Stockton Heath shop is worth around £30.

That £30 could support three people to take part in a group ‘wellbeing session’ or enable a pregnant woman to access support to help them successfully understand and manage their own perinatal mental health.

But bags of stock are worth nothing if we don’t have volunteers willing to clean items, sort them, create brilliant displays and assist our customers.

Our shop relies on volunteers, which is why for this year’s Volunteers’ Week (June 1 to 7) we are telling volunteers ‘you make the difference’ and asking the community ‘how can you make a difference?’ I am calling on readers to support Mind’s Stockton Heath shop by giving just a couple of hours twice a week.

Volunteering at the Mind shop in Stockton Heath is a great way to give something back to the community and it also provides a chance to develop new skills or build work experience, and can even support you in obtaining an NVQ.

I urge readers to pop in and find out more about how they can support us to help secure a better life for the one in four people who experience a mental health problem every year.

KAYLEIGH HANCOX The Mind shop in Stockton Heath